“It’s unreal. Of course, you grow up watching all of these legends, these amazing players. [Dimitrov] used to play a big part of his career on this court. So just to face him with the packed stadium is everything I’ve worked for, and to manage to win, it’s even more special.”
Coached by former top 100 player Pedro Sousa and former world No. 59 Rui Machado, Faria is part of a new Portuguese generation that includes Nuno Borges and Henrique Rocha.
Physicality, punchy groundstrokes and a sizzling down-the-line backhand make Faria a force to be reckoned with, and as Tuesday’s tilt wore on he began to exploit his physical advantage over Dimitrov.
Throw in plenty of intestinal fortitude, and you’ve got the makings of a clay court warrior.
“I’m Portuguese, so I was taught to never quit since the beginning,” he told a group of reporters in a media scrum after his win.
“Yeah, very happy to have also my team supporting me from the first moment I entered on court, and helping me through this tough moment, because it’s not easy to step in this packed court against such a guy like this, and to find ways to win it.”