Even after a strong performance that rattled his opponent, Novak Djokovic had to dig much deeper than expected at the Vanda Pharmaceuticals Hellenic Championship in Athens. The Serbian star recorded his 200th indoor win by defeating Nuno Borges 7-6(1), 6-4, advancing to the semi-finals and reaching his 199th tour-level semi-final. Borges, ranked #47, far below Djokovic #5, played in a way that forced the former world number one to earn every single point.

After the match, Djokovic admitted he had been surprised by Borges’ high level of play. “It was a very physical battle. I thought Nuno played really well. I was a bit surprised with how good he played.” And it really was that good. Borges truly deserved that praise. The first set was evenly matched, stretching into a tense 6-6 tie-break after Djokovic missed three early break chances. Borges served with confidence, saving break points in both the second and eighth games. But when the set reached its breaking point, Djokovic shifted gears completely, racing to a 6-1 lead in the tie-break.

Novak Djokovic further added, “I think we went toe to toe, most of the match. Just a few points decided the winner tonight, and he deserves a round of applause for his performance….I played a great tie-break in the first set. Not too many opportunities for both of us to break the serve of the other guy. That game was the only game I was able to break him.” Carrying that momentum into the second set, Djokovic maintained control while Borges continued to battle hard. The Portuguese player still found ways to pressure him, but began showing signs of discomfort in his right knee.

Even so, Borges refused to back down, chasing every ball until Djokovic finally broke through at 3-3 to take a 4-3 lead. That moment became the turning point of the match. Once ahead, Djokovic locked in. Borges tried to hang on but couldn’t find another opening; his movement was clearly limited. The Serbian closed out the set 6-4, finishing the match in an hour and forty-four minutes.

Statistically, Novak Djokovic delivered a well-balanced effort: 22 winners, 20 unforced errors, and 28 service winners while saving both break points he faced. With the victory, Djokovic advances to the semifinals, where he will play Yannick Hanfmann or Marcos Giron. The night in Athens, however, was about more than just statistics; it was about respect that attracted the interest of many, including a well-known former tennis player’s coach.

Miles Maclagan applauds Nuno Borges for pushing Novak Djokovic to his limits in Athens

Following Novak Djokovic’s hard fought victory in Athens, Miles Maclagan, the former coach of Andy Murray, expressed his admiration for both players. “The fans certainly got their money’s worth,” he said. “They will not be disappointed. That was impressive. We expect clean ball-striking, but right from the very start… commanding performance from Novak Djokovic.” His admiration, though, wasn’t reserved for Djokovic alone; Maclagan made sure to credit Nuno Borges for turning the match into a real battle.

“Maybe it just took him [Djokovic] a little longer to shake off Nuno Borges than he might have expected,” Maclagan said. “The Portuguese player is gritty, hung in for a long time, played really well himself.” His words exactly showed what the Athens crowd felt: appreciation for a lower-ranked player who met one of the sport’s greats with courage. Borges might have lost, but he won respect for pushing Novak Djokovic to find his very best level.

Maclagan went on to highlight how rare such resistance is. “To stay with Djokovic at that level, over that length of time, is not something that many have managed to do,” he explained. “We saw his reaction at the end; it meant something to him. He was pushed. An excellent performance from Borges, I hope he’s ok but it was a display to enjoy from both players.” Djokovic, who is now only two victories away from winning his 101st ATP title, advanced to the semifinals with the victory.

With 100 career ATP titles, he is now third on the all-time list, behind Roger Federer (103) and Jimmy Connors (109). If he wins the trophy in Athens, he will only need two more titles to catch up to Federer. But that won’t be easy: either Lorenzo Musetti or Sebastian Korda could be waiting in the final, both of them eager to make a statement win. On Friday, November 7, Novak Djokovic will be back in court in the Greek capital for another test. One thing is for sure: if Djokovic keeps this fire going, Athens might see history being made in its bright November lights.