NEW YORK — Portugal’s Jaime Faria beat local favourite Jenson Brooksby in a match full of drama: he was booed, responded with insults and finished by celebrating with his fingers pointing to his ears and sending a couple of fans to bed.
Faria survived the first round in New York. He started by winning the first two sets, before losing focus and allowing his opponent to take control of the match.
“In the third and fourth set, there were some who got into my head. You have to know how to deal with those guys,” Faria said in his on-court interview.
He then added with a touch of irony: “Thanks for the support. I enjoy playing against Americans in America (USA). This is the kind of tournament I want to play… I am enjoying New York, it is a little chaotic for me, but I like it.”
When the North American fans’ support crossed a line for Faria in the fifth set, he responded with insults: “Ide para o caralho, filhos da puta” (“Go to hell, you sons of bitches”).
The Portuguese closed out the match on Court 17 with a 6-3, 7-6 (7-4), 4-6, 1-6 and 6-2 victory.
With his first win in New York, Faria became only the third Portuguese player to win at least one match at all four Grand Slams, joining João Sousa and Nuno Borges.
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Faria, a young talent tipped to break every tennis record in his country, could face Carlos Alcaraz in the second round, should the Spaniard successfully come through his debut on Monday against Russian Roman Safiullin.
The 23-year-old Portuguese is in the form of his life: close to breaking into the top 60 after securing the biggest win of his career in Cincinnati, where he beat North American Ben Shelton, the recent Canada Masters 1000 champion. In Ohio he reached the last 16, having started in qualifying.
In a recent interview with CLAY, the Portuguese player spoke about his passion for football. He is a Sporting Clube de Portugal fan and a follower of Lionel Messi.
“Football gives me so much life when I come back home — to disconnect a little from tennis and be with friends. It is a beautiful way to recharge,” he said.
