The ATP Bucharest, a part of the ATP 250 events, is the perfect stage for players down on their luck to get wins under their belt. Nuno Borges and Stan Wawrinka are two such players. They desperately need a win, as both are performing below par this season. Going deep, Bucharest can set them up with good momentum, which they can use before the Madrid Open comes around.

Wawrinka has only played eight matches this year and only attained two victories, which is only a cause for concern for his game. Borges, on the other hand, has played 18 matches this year, with 9 victories under his belt. 

Stan Wawrinka vs Nuno Borges: Preview

Wawrinka is in the final stages of his career, and his win-loss record this year is a testament to this. He has played in three matches on clay this year and only managed one win, which is his second win this year. In the Monte-Carlo Masters, he lost to Alex De Minaur 3-6, 0-6. Landing 63% of first serves, he could only manage to win 47% of points. He managed to win one break point but could not win more than 3 games on his favorite surface.

While Borges is on a tiff himself, he is performing much better than the Swiss player. He played in the Estoril Open and first beat Lucas Pouille, despite being bageled in the first set. Borges followed it up with a victory over Lorenzo Musetti and then lost to Cristian Garín. He managed 6 aces in the tournament, accompanied by a 68% win on the first serve against Garin. The Portuguese player fumbled under pressure as he only won 6 of 18 break points while giving away 8 of 18 break points. 

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Wawrinka vs Borges: Head-to-Head

Wawrinka and Borges will play each other for the first time in their careers despite both being active for a long time. They will also play on a surface most players find very challenging to adapt to. However, both have a good grip on clay, with Wawrinka preferring it over other surfaces. The bout will certainly be a sight to witness as both players perform great on the dirt. Their run in the ATP Bucharest will likely be declared as a win here. 

Prediction: Borges to give Wawrinka an exit

If the match had been held a few years ago, one would have given the win to Wawrinka without hesitation. However, he has not evoked much faith in viewers with back-to-back defeats in 2024. Despite possessing one of the best one-handed backhands in history, Wawrinka’s age is impacting his athleticism and power, which Borges will exploit. 

Although he hasn’t made a heavy impact on the ATP Tour yet, he has a great chance of winning against Wawrinka, who will be playing on his favorite surface. Overall, on clay, Wawrinka has a superior 74% win on the first serve as opposed to Borges’ 69% and a marginally better 32% return on the first serve as opposed to Borges’ 30%. However, he has fallen short when it comes to pulling ahead and winning the match. 

The Swiss player can attain a victory if we see a speck of his old self, but as he turned 39 this year, the possibility is infinitesimal. Borges will take the win and move ahead on the dirt.