Borges beat Rublev 6-3, 6-4 in Cincinnati, a match decided by sharper serving and better work on the big points. Borges held all eight of his service games, saved three of four break points and converted three breaks of Rublev's serve.
The opener swung early: Borges broke in game 2 and again in game 4 to lead 4-0. Rublev pulled one break back at 1-4, but Borges closed it out 6-3. In the second set, a lone break in game 5 put Borges 3-2 ahead and he finished 6-4.
Borges won 28 of 36 first-serve points (78%) compared with Rublev's 21 of 32, while landing 68% of first serves to Rublev's 58%. He finished with 59 total points to Rublev's 49 and never dropped serve.