2025 Shanghai Masters has already delivered plenty of surprises, with early exits shaking up the tournament and opening doors for unexpected contenders. Among the biggest stories is a remarkable achievement that has now put Carlos Alcaraz on notice.
Shocks and surprises in Shanghai
The ATP 1000 event in Shanghai has been unpredictable from the outset. Sixth seed Ben Shelton suffered a shocking first-round defeat to David Goffin, marking an abrupt end to his return to tour-level action. Similarly, world No. 4 Taylor Fritz bowed out in straight sets against Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in round three.
With both Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner withdrawing due to physical issues, the draw has suddenly opened up, offering an opportunity for other stars to make their mark. One player, in particular, has quietly emerged as a significant challenger to Alcaraz’s otherwise dominant 2025 season.
Nuno Borges emerges as a dark horse
Portuguese star Nuno Borges has booked his place in the fourth round of a Masters 1000 event for the first time in his career. Borges has yet to drop a set in Shanghai, defeating Botic van de Zandschulp and Aleksandar Vukic before overcoming local favorite Shang Juncheng in a three-set thriller.
This victory marked the 15th time Borges has won a tour-level match in a decider this year, an impressive statistic that now matches Carlos Alcaraz’s tally for 2025. The feat positions Borges at the top of the ATP leaderboard in this category, putting him in elite company alongside the world number one.
The significance of Borges’ achievement
Nuno Borges’ remarkable record highlights his mental toughness and clutch performance under pressure. Winning so many decisive matches demonstrates not just skill, but composure and strategic execution in high-stakes moments. For a player outside the top tier, matching Alcaraz’s performance in this specific metric signals a rising talent who could be a serious threat in upcoming tournaments.
This record is especially notable given Carlos Alcaraz’s dominant 2025 season, which has seen him excel across Grand Slam and Masters events. Borges’ consistency in deciding sets shows he is ready to step up when the opportunity presents itself, particularly in tournaments where other top stars are absent.
With Borges progressing to the fourth round, all eyes will be on the Portuguese player to see if he can continue his record-tying streak and potentially make a deep run in Shanghai. The tournament’s surprises so far suggest that nothing is guaranteed, and Nuno Borges may now have the confidence to challenge higher-ranked opponents.