By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Thursday, February 20, 2025
A year can change everything, especially in the world of professional tennis. Last year, Jaime Faria from Portugal was hovering just within the Top 400 rankings. Today, he’s ready to break into the Top 100, having reached his first-ever ATP quarterfinal on Thursday in Rio.
Faria showed his potential earlier this year at the Australian Open, where he boldly claimed a set from none other than Novak Djokovic in the second round. On Thursday, he took down Spain’s Jaume Munar with a 6-4, 2-6, 6-3 victory.
Thanks to this win, Faria leaps to No. 87 in the live rankings. Come Monday, he’ll join Nuno Borges (currently 37 in the rankings) as one of Portugal’s top tennis players.
A thrilling display of pure talent was evident in his match-winning return. Faria clinched the most significant win of his burgeoning career by defeating Munar to secure his first tour-level quarterfinal spot at the prestigious Rio tournament.
Until last month, Faria had never claimed an ATP-level victory, but his triumph over Pavel Kotov in Melbourne changed that. The previous year, he notched an impressive 53 wins on the Challenger and Futures circuits, making an appearance in seven finals and bagging six titles, four of those at the Challenger level.
Faria’s strength lies in his adaptability, thriving on hard courts yet proving formidable on clay as well. His recent performance in Rio is testament to this, having smashed 35 winners against Munar’s 11, showcasing his prowess.
Reflecting on his progress, Faria shared his excitement, saying, “I’m so happy. In these tournaments, it’s easier to find motivation to come back stronger and give everything that I have in my legs and in my head.”
Confidence seems to be key for Faria. “I think confidence is the word. I think my level is there, and it has been there the last year. I have so much confidence and so many wins – let’s keep it that way.”
Faria now prepares to meet fellow lucky loser Camilo Ugo Carabelli for a sought-after spot in the semifinals on Friday in Rio.
