Italian Open 2024: Alexander Zverev vs Nuno Borges preview, head-to-head, prediction, live streaming details

This is the first meeting between both players.

Alexander Zverev has consistently performed in the early rounds of the 2024 ATP Masters 1000 events. On Sunday, Zverev took a 7-6(3), 6-2 win against Italy’s Luciano Darderi at the Italian Open 2024. The third-seeded German has now made it to the round of 16 at all five Masters 1000 tournaments played in 2024.

Zverev faced a lone break point against the local player, managing to hold through four deuces at 5-2 before breaking Darderi’s serve at love to close out the match. He won 41 out of 49 (84%) first-serve points and hit 28 winners, along with 12 aces. Darderi was the highest-ranked Italian remaining in the singles draw.

Following his one-hour and 48-minute win against the 22-year-old Darderi, the World No. 5 will face Portugal’s Nuno Borges in the fourth round.

Borges is coming off a comeback win against Italian, Francesco Passaro, with a score of 4-6, 7-6(8), 7-6(4). Borges saved a match point in his three-hour and seven-minute match against Passaro, during which the Italian hit 44 winners but also made 36 unforced errors.

Alexander Zverev vs Nuno Borges Match Details

Date: May 14, Tuesday

Time: 5:45 PM IST (Tentative)

Venue: Foro Italico, Rome

Alexander Zverev vs Nuno Borges preview

Zverev currently holds the fourth position in the race to Turin and is the second-highest ranked player remaining in the field, following defending champion and compatriot Daniil Medvedev. Top seed Novak Djokovic made an early exit after a surprising defeat by Chilean Alejandro Tabilo in straight sets, 6-3, 6-2.

Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner were absent from the Rome tournament as both players are recuperating from injuries sustained in previous events.

So far, Zverev has encountered minimal difficulty in the Internazionali BNL d’Italia, securing both his victories in straight sets and spending less than two hours on the court for each match. His second-round encounter with Darderi, which extended to a first-set tiebreak, was the lengthier of the two, lasting 108 minutes.

In contrast, Borges has spent just over eight hours on the court. The Portuguese player’s grueling opening-round match against unseeded Spaniard Pedro Martinez lasted three hours and 38 minutes, with the second set alone taking up 72 minutes.

After dropping the first set 4-6, Borges endured two tie-break sets to secure his victory. He clinched the second set tiebreak 10-8 and the third set tiebreak 7-4, advancing to the fourth round.

Head-to-head records

Matches – 0

Alexander Zverev – 0

Nuno Borges – 0

Alexander Zverev and Nuno Borges have not yet crossed paths since turning pro on the ATP Tour. Their fourth-round match in the 2024 Internazionali BNL d’Italia will be their first career head-to-head.

Where and how to watch live streaming and TV broadcast of Alexander Zverev vs Nuno Borges, Italian Open 2024, fourth round in India?

The round of 16 fixture between Alexander Zverev and Nuno Borges in the Internazionali BNL d’Italia will be broadcast live in India on the Sony Sports Network bouquet of channels. SonyLiv – the Sony Network streaming service also caters to the viewing needs of tennis enthusiasts in the country.    

Prediction

This year, Zverev boasts a 22-9 match win record, compared to Borges’ 10-12. The German has also been a finalist in Rome two years in a row, in 2017 and 2018, clinching victory in the 2017 championship match against Novak Djokovic in straight sets.

Alexander Zverev and Nuno Borges, both 27, will face off on Tuesday in the round of 16 at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia. With early round departures of favorites like Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, and Ben Shelton this week, the German is cautious to avoid a similar fate.

Borges is experiencing his most successful run in Rome during his second appearance at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia. Last season, he reached the second round but was defeated by Stefanos Tsitsipas with scores of 3-6, 3-6.

Now on the cusp of his first quarterfinals in Rome, Borges will confront the experienced Alexander Zverev, who holds an 18-6 record in the city.

On clay this season, Zverev’s record is 4-3, and he has won 89% of his matches after securing the first set. Borges’ corresponding statistics are 3-3 and 86%. For both players, capturing the first set will be crucial, providing the advantage of a one-set lead.

Result: Alexander Zverev to win in three sets.

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