On Wednesday at the Barcelona Open, Nuno Borges and Tomas Martin Etcheverry faced off in the Round of 16. It was set to be an intriguing match between two players who find their best game on the red dirt. That said, Etcheverry was still expected to get the better of the Portuguese, being the higher-ranked and more accomplished of the two. It also presented him with a chance to get one back against a player who beat him earlier in the year at the Round of 32 stage at the Auckland Open, in what was their only previous meeting.
Nuno Borges had arrived at the tournament in really poor form, having lost his last four matches, with the last two on clay – his preferred surface. He had won his first match in this competition against the wily but ageing Adrian Mannarino. However, it looked ominous that the Argentine Etcheverry would get the better of him. Etcheverry, on the other hand, had come through against Jack Draper, who again retired from a match due to injury in the deciding set.
It was, however, Borges who started the match the more inspired of the two, producing a solid performance to take the first set 6-3. The second set was a more closely contested affair, with both players exchanging breaks. The set, ultimately, spiralled into a tiebreaker. It was at this juncture that Borges produced arguably the moment the match will be remembered for. While leading the tiebreak 6-4, Nuno had the chance to serve for the victory and produced a stunning underarm serve–a shot rarely ever used in top tennis, let alone at match point.
UNDERARM ACE ON MATCH POINT?! 😱
A stroke of genius from @nunoborges97 to reach his biggest career ATP quarter-final in Barcelona!#BCNOpenBS pic.twitter.com/wtjypsFhv9
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) April 15, 2026
Etcheverry, who failed to get to the serve in time, was left looking perplexed as he stared into space for a moment too long as Borges sealed the match win. The Argentine then offered a frosty handshake at the net, suggesting he was not too pleased by the shot. The fans, too, made their feelings known about the shot, as the match’s conclusion was greeted with jeers. Despite that, Borges would certainly not be too worried, as he now moves into the next round, having won consecutive matches for the first time since the Australian Open in January.
Main Photo Credit: Susan Mullane-Imagn Images
