Borges, Kubler punch tickets to main event

 - Dan Imhoff

Portuguese and Australian among eight qualifiers to secure starting berths in Paris

Nuno Borges, 3e tour, qualifications, Roland-Garros 2022©Clément Mahoudeau / FFT

Nuno Borges’ month of firsts enters fresh territory next week when he makes his Grand Slam main draw debut in Paris, following a dream run through qualifying.

It was less than three weeks ago that the Portuguese 25-year-old experienced the euphoria of winning a maiden tour-level doubles title before a raucous home crowd.

On Thursday, he clinched his third three-setter from as many matches 3-6, 6-2, 6-1 over Hungarian Zsombor Piros to break further new ground.

>> FULL THURSDAY QUALIFYING RESULTS

“This was my Grand Slam debut in general. It was my first matches here in Roland-Garros and I couldn't be happier to not just play but also qualify,” Borges said.

“It will be my first five-set match, so I'm excited. Whoever might be my opponent, I'm just very happy and proud to be here and share the court with some of the greatest players.

“I think it will be a very cool experience for me. Whoever I play, at this point, there’s no pressure.”

Borges’ doubles triumph in Estoril with compatriot Francisco Cabral was sealed before the nation’s president, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, earlier this month.

It bodes well should the former Mississippi State college player find himself pitted against a big name on a feature court at Roland-Garros.

The doubles breakthrough in Estoril capped a stellar season in which Borges has claimed his second singles Challenger title and six doubles titles at that level alongside Cabral.

“It was just really crazy. We made jokes about what if we win [Estoril],” he said. “Once we got that first win it was like 'maybe we can actually do this'. I don't know, we just stayed in the moment, enjoyed the crowd, enjoyed the atmosphere in our first ATP [final].

“It was just great. The crowd was just crazy playing at home with all our friends and family involved. It was just really, really special.”

The college route to professional tennis allowed Borges to develop his game and build discipline for four years in the US.

As the world No.126, while yet to emulate the same level of achievements in singles as doubles this year, he was assured of the flow-on effects.

“More than just winning those matches it gives me a lot of confidence towards singles, just in my game in general,” he said. “A winning feeling is always good and during those low moments in singles, getting a few wins in doubles is always really helpful.”

Kubler set for RG debut

Australian Jason Kubler will also make his Roland-Garros main draw debut after a 7-5, 6-2 victory over Borges’ compatriot, Pedro Sousa.

The world No.161 had contested qualifying in Paris three times before and required five match points to finally handle the weight of the moment and pass the final hurdle.

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“It feels unreal. This was the last Slam where I hadn't played a main draw,” Kubler said. “With the match, right at the end was a bit nerve-wracking. I was definitely a bit tight.

“I think it's just something that's going to help my confidence that even when I'm feeling like that I can still get through. Yeah, I’m really happy with the last three matches.”

The 29-year-old saved a match point to deny Moldovan Radu Albot in the previous round in a three-hour and 14-minute tussle.

Jason Kubler, 3e tour, qualifications, Roland-Garros 2022©André Ferreira / FFT

The escape only emboldened him to win through qualifying at a major for the first time since Wimbledon four years ago.

“I guess just this year for me in general has been a pretty good year,” Kubler said.

“I had that pretty good run in the doubles [third round with Christopher O’Connell] and mixed doubles [runner-up with Jaimee Fourlis] at the Aussie Open, so in terms of prize money that was great for me.”

The financial windfall had allowed Kubler to invest more in coaching and support while on the road.

In a career often plagued by knee injuries, a fit again Kubler would take whatever came next in Paris in his stride.

“Obviously I'd love to win as many rounds as I could, but to be honest, I just want to play people where I learn things about myself,” he said.

“If I play any of the big names, win or lose I'm going to learn what I need to improve, learn what type of player I am, maybe experience some pretty cool moments.”

In other final-round qualifying matches, Austrian Sebastian Ofner booked just his second Grand Slam main draw berth and first since a third-round run at Wimbledon five years ago.

Argentine 22-year-old Santiago Fa Rodriguez Taverna, 25-year-old Czech Zdenek Kolar, 20-year-old Italian Giulio Zeppieri and 24-year-old Croatian Borna Gojo all  sealed their respective Grand Slam main draw debuts.

Spanish 25-year-old Bernabe Zapata Miralles advanced to his second straight main draw in Paris.