Majchrzak Upsets Borges In Winston-Salem Open Showdown

With just a week to go before the US Open, all eyes turned to North Carolina for the ATP 250 Winston-Salem Open, where the tournament’s second round delivered a slate of high-stakes matchups on August 18, 2025. The Wake Forest Tennis Complex buzzed with anticipation as players looked to sharpen their games and build confidence ahead of the final Grand Slam of the season.

Among the most closely watched contests was the clash between Portugal’s Nuno Borges and Poland’s Kamil Majchrzak. Both men arrived with compelling storylines: Borges, aged 28 and ranked No. 42 in the world, had made waves over the past year, breaking into the Top 50 for the first time in his career and capturing his maiden ATP Tour title at Bastad in 2024—where he famously toppled Rafael Nadal in the final. Majchrzak, 29 and ranked No. 78, was riding a wave of momentum after clinching his ninth Challenger title just a week prior and showing his mettle in the qualifying rounds of the Australian Open earlier in the season.

Their previous head-to-head encounter—on clay at the Davis Cup—had gone Borges’ way, but this time the stakes were different, and the surface was hard court, a factor that always adds a twist to the script. Borges entered the match with a 10-9 record on hard courts in 2025, boasting a 74.2% service game win rate and converting 34.8% of break points, ranking him 30th on tour in that stat. Majchrzak, meanwhile, had a 3-3 record in hard court tournaments this year, with a strong 77.9% service game win percentage and a break-point conversion rate of 37.1%.

Bookmakers gave Borges a slight edge, pegging him at -140 odds (58.3% implied probability) to advance to the Round of 16, while Majchrzak was considered a live underdog at +110. But as tennis fans know, odds only tell part of the story. Both players had something to prove: Borges was seeking to match his personal-best 24 tour-level wins in a season, while Majchrzak was eager to extend his winning streak and build on his recent Challenger success.

On match day, the Portuguese and Polish contingents in the stands added to the charged atmosphere. Borges, known for his resilience and tactical acumen, looked to assert himself early. However, it quickly became clear that Majchrzak had brought his A-game to Winston-Salem. The Polish player, who has steadily climbed the ATP rankings since breaking into the Top 100 in July 2019, came out firing on all cylinders. Majchrzak’s serve was particularly sharp; he did not face a single breakpoint throughout the match, a testament to his focus and execution.

Majchrzak raced through the first set 6-1, breaking Borges’ serve twice and dictating play from the baseline. The second set saw Borges try to regroup and find answers, but Majchrzak’s consistency and aggressive play continued to pay dividends. The Pole secured another break and closed out the set 6-3, sealing a straight-sets victory and booking his spot in the third round. According to the match report, “Kamil Majchrzak defeated 7th seed Nuno Borges 6-1, 6-3 to progress to the third round on August 18, 2025.”

This result was particularly impressive given Borges’ recent form. The Portuguese player had lost four of his last five matches coming into Winston-Salem, including a straight-sets defeat to Arthur Rinderknech in Cincinnati just a week earlier. Still, Borges’ 2025 season has been marked by significant milestones, including his first ATP title and a career-high ranking of No. 30. His ability to bounce back from tough losses has been a hallmark of his rise, and fans will be eager to see how he responds as the US Open approaches.

For Majchrzak, the victory was another feather in his cap during a resurgent summer. After winning the Challenger title in Poland the previous week—where he defeated Prizmic in straight sets in the final—Majchrzak’s confidence was clearly sky-high. His win over Borges marked his sixth straight victory, underscoring his readiness to challenge higher-ranked opponents on the ATP Tour.

Elsewhere in the draw, other storylines continued to unfold. American Sebastian Korda, seeded 11th, made a triumphant return from a two-and-a-half month injury layoff, defeating Vit Kopriva 6-3, 6-4 for his 12th win of the year. Korda’s comeback added another layer of intrigue to the tournament, as he set up a third-round meeting with Majchrzak, who had just dispatched the seventh seed in convincing fashion. “All the emotions possible,” Korda said about his return. “It’s fun to be back here. The last time I was here was in 2023 and had some good results, so it’s nice to be back here. Hopefully it stays hot and I can keep playing some good tennis.”

In other action, Italy’s Mattia Bellucci advanced to the second round after defeating Argentina’s Francisco Comesana 6-4, 6-3. Bellucci, fresh off a Challenger title win in Sumter, continued his strong run of form, making him a player to watch as the tournament progresses. Meanwhile, 17-year-old American qualifier Darwin Blanch captured his first tour-level win with a 6-4, 7-6(5) victory over former world No. 12 Borna Coric, signaling the arrival of a new generation of talent. Fellow American qualifier Nishesh Basavareddy also moved on, as did Hungary’s Marton Fucsovics and Serbia’s Hamad Medjedovic, who bested Arthur Rinderknech 6-3, 7-6(7).

As the second round wrapped up, the field at Winston-Salem was left wide open, with both veterans and rising stars vying for valuable match practice and a shot at the title. For Kamil Majchrzak, the win over Borges was not just a statement, but a springboard as he prepared to face the next challenge—an in-form Sebastian Korda, eager to make up for lost time after injury.

The action in North Carolina is far from over, and with the US Open looming, every match takes on added significance. Fans can expect more surprises, drama, and high-quality tennis as the Winston-Salem Open barrels toward its climax.