Rafael Nadal demonstrated the adage “slow and steady wins the race” by reaching his first final in over two years at the Bastad Open. The Spanish tennis legend is using this tournament as preparation for the Paris Olympics, set to be held on the clay courts of Roland Garros. This marks Nadal’s first ATP Tour final since his early exit from the French Open and the birth of his son in October 2022.
In an impressive display of resilience and skill, Nadal overcame Duje Ajdukovic to secure his place in the final. This achievement underscores his triumphant return to form after a hiatus. At 38, Nadal’s performance in Bastad has been nothing short of remarkable, defeating prominent opponents and showcasing his enduring talent.
Nadal’s journey to the final included a grueling quarterfinal match against Argentinian player Navone, which lasted four hours. Despite the exhaustion, Nadal returned to the court for the semifinal and secured a victory in another intense three-set match.
Reflecting on his semifinal win, Nadal said, “A very tough match. My opponent had one of the best backhands I’ve played against. He came here with a lot of confidence. But I found a way to survive, and will be in a final after a very long time.”
Rafael Nadal: “A very tough match. My opponent had one of the best backhands I’ve played against. He came here with a lot of confidence. But I found a way to survive, and will be in a final after a very long time.”
— Talking Tennis (@TalkingTennisTT) July 20, 2024
Nadal’s achievement is made more special by the presence of his family. His wife, Maria Francisca Perello, and son, Rafa Jr., have been cheering him on from the sidelines, adding a personal touch to his professional success. This is Nadal’s first appearance at the ATP 250 event in Bastad since he won the competition in 2005, highlighting his enduring passion and commitment to the sport.
Nadal in Bastad, ranking, and results in 2024
Currently the world no.261, Rafael has managed to achieve a 11-5 win-loss record in 2024. The Spaniard is playing at the moment in Bastad where he bested the world no.461 Leo Borg 6-3 6-4, the world no.42 Cameron Norrie 6-4 6-4, the world no.36 Mariano Navone 6-7(2) 7-5 7-5 and the world no.130 Duje Ajdukovic 4-6 6-3 6-4.
Rafael Nadal will fight against the world no.51 Nuno Borges in the final on Sunday at 2:00 pm on CENTRE COURT. In the past, they have never competed against each other so far on the main tour.
The Spaniard won 92 titles in his career: 24 on hard courts, 63 on clay courts, 1 on indoor courts and 4 on grass courts. (See the list of his titles)
Rafael Nadal |
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