Playing without pressure

“I'm seeded,” Faria said after his 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 (10-6) victory over the former world No.3. “It's never easy to take Grigor Dimitrov in the first round of a qualifying draw, but I mean, I felt the pressure was on his side, and I was really relaxed playing and just trying to enjoy, finding ways to win it.”

In the end, the electrifying atmosphere might have been what gave Faria the energy he needed as he rallied past the former world No.3 in front of a 10,000-strong Court Suzanne-Lenglen crowd. 

“Just amazing,” Faria said, after walking the tightrope in a two hour and 46-minute tussle. “I'm not used to playing in an atmosphere like this, and I felt I handled it very well. Just very happy to [show] so much perseverance. 

“I was a break down in the second set and he was serving for the match; he was serving for the match in the third set. I just found some force to turn it around and just stay in the match."

Faria hasn’t had much experience on the big stage, but he did take a set from Novak Djokovic inside Rod Laver Arena in a second round match in 2025. 

That formative experience helped him manage his nerves during Tuesday’s back-and-forth slugfest with Dimitrov. 

“I've played in Rod Laver against Novak, I managed to also get a set, so I've played in an atmosphere like this. If I hadn’t played before [on a big stage like that], maybe I would lose [today]."

If he continues with the brand of inspired play he produced against Dimitrov, Faria may become a fixture in the main draws at the Slams. The 22-year-old peaked in the rankings at No.87 in February of last year but Tuesday's scintillating performance points to a higher ceiling.

“It's unreal. Of course, you grow up watching all of these legends, these amazing players. [Dimitrov] used to play a big part of his career on this court. So just to face him with the packed stadium is everything I've worked for, and to manage to win, it's even more special.”

Coached by former top 100 player Pedro Sousa and former world No. 59 Rui Machado, Faria is part of a new Portuguese generation that includes Nuno Borges and Henrique Rocha. 

Physicality, punchy groundstrokes and a sizzling down-the-line backhand make Faria a force to be reckoned with, and as Tuesday’s tilt wore on he began to exploit his physical advantage over Dimitrov. 

Throw in plenty of intestinal fortitude, and you’ve got the makings of a clay court warrior.

“I'm Portuguese, so I was taught to never quit since the beginning,” he told a group of reporters in a media scrum after his win.

“Yeah, very happy to have also my team supporting me from the first moment I entered on court, and helping me through this tough moment, because it's not easy to step in this packed court against such a guy like this, and to find ways to win it.”

Dimitrov, adored by fans worldwide for his elegant tennis and charisma, did everything but finish off the victory. The 35-year-old, ranked No. 170, was playing qualifying at a Grand Slam for the first time since 2011, and for the first time ever in Paris. Fans that streamed into Lenglen showered him with applause as he left the court. 

Faria was outplayed through a set and a half, but never hung his head. Eventually his willingness to dig in paid dividends as he broke Dimitrov twice late in the second then reclaimed a break late in the third to force a tiebreaker, which he dominated. 

“I think it was just perseverance, and I just kept fighting, it was a crazy ambience for me, just so special,” he said.

“Grigor is such a legend of this game, I hope we see him playing many more matches. But I’ve worked all my life and I just want to soak it all in.”