By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Thursday, February 20, 2025
Last year, Portugal’s Jaime Faria was just scraping the Top 400. Fast forward a year, and he’s poised to break into the Top 100 after an impressive showing that saw him reach his maiden ATP quarterfinal in Rio.
After a strong performance at this year’s Australian Open where he even won a set against Novak Djokovic, Faria continued his ascent by defeating Spain’s Jaume Munar with a score of 6-4, 2-6, 6-3.
This victory has propelled him to No. 87 in the live rankings, making him the second Portuguese player to join the Top 100, alongside Nuno Borges, who currently stands at No. 37 in the live rankings.
A blistering return to seal it 🔥
Jaime Faria gets the biggest win of his young career, knocking out Munar to reach his first tour-level QF! @RioOpenOficial pic.twitter.com/4UzWN6QAc5
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) February 20, 2025
Before this year, Faria hadn’t tasted victory at the ATP level—a feat he accomplished last month in Melbourne against Pavel Kotov. Last year, he amassed an impressive 53 wins on the Challenger and Futures circuits, dominating with six titles from seven finals, including four Challenger victories.
He’s a force to be reckoned with, showcasing even stronger performances on hard courts in the past year, but he’s proving his prowess on clay as well, as illustrated by his 35 winners compared to Munar’s meager 11 winners and 18 unforced errors.
“I’m so happy,” Faria expressed. “In these tournaments, it’s easier to find motivation to come back stronger and give everything I have in my legs and my mind.”
“Confidence is key. My level has been consistent over the past year. I’ve gained so much confidence from my wins—let’s keep the momentum going!”
Next up, Faria will take on fellow lucky loser Camilo Ugo Carabelli for a chance to advance to the semifinals on Friday in Rio.
