ATP Tour
It All Adds Up: Why Borges is best at net
Portuguese won the highest percentage of points when at the net in 2025
January 18, 2026
ATP
Nuno Borges is a one-time tour-level titlist.
By Jerome Coombe
During the Australian Open, ATPTour.com will bring fans insight into the leaders of key statistical categories, showing how performances throughout 2025 all added up to successful seasons and the promise of more good times ahead in 2026.
Nuno Borges turned net approaches into a winning formula in 2025.
When the Portuguese stepped inside the baseline and closed in on the net, points often ended on his terms. Borges won an eye-catching 72.3 per cent of points when at the net in 2025, the highest success rate on the ATP Tour across the season.
Although Borges produced many moments of magic, the effectiveness at net was about efficiency. Crisp volleys, solid positioning and calm decision-making allowed him to shorten points and take time away from opponents.
“When a guy comes to the net, he still has more than a 50 per cent chance of winning the point, and I guess I just chose really wisely when to come in,” Borges explained. “It is something I’ve been working on: those approaches, when to come in and choosing the right shot.”
So what explains Borges’ standout efficiency at the net? For the Portuguese, it comes down to smart selection and reading the moment.
“A few times I was maybe pushed to the net when I didn’t want to be, but maybe I played a great approach shot really deep and made the guy try to lob me,” Borges said. “On the quicker surfaces, I would tend to come in more as it’s harder to pass and you have less time to put an angle on the shot.”
That attacking clarity translated into the most productive season of his career. In 2025, Borges recorded a personal-best 30 tour-level victories, according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index, underlining his growing consistency. Eighteen of those wins came on hard courts, including his run to the semi-finals of the ATP 250 in Auckland.
Points Won At Net (2025)
Visit our Infosys ATP Stats section for more insights.
