Nadal Reaches First Final in Two Years at Bastad

AFP/APP

Bastad: Rafael Nadal secured his first final appearance in two years at the Bastad Open, defeating Croatian qualifier Duje Ajdukovic in a grueling three-set match. 

Nadal triumphed 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 after a challenging battle, marking his return to a final since winning the 2022 French Open.

The Spaniard faced a tough opponent in Ajdukovic, the world number 130, who had only won two tour-level matches before this week. Despite losing the first set and struggling early, Nadal managed to turn the match around, showcasing his resilience and experience.

“Reaching the final after a long time feels incredible,” Nadal commented. “It’s been a tough road, especially after a significant hip surgery nearly a year ago. But I’m fighting and improving with each match.”

Nadal, who has seen his ranking drop to 261 due to injuries, is using this tournament as preparation for the Paris Olympics, where tennis will be played on clay at Roland Garros. He won gold in singles in Beijing 2008 and in doubles in Rio 2016.

In the final, Nadal will face either Portuguese seventh seed Nuno Borges or Argentina’s Thiago Agustin Tirante. His most recent title came at Roland Garros in 2022, where he won a record-extending 14th title.

Due to his rigorous schedule, Nadal withdrew from the doubles event later on Saturday as a precaution after a taxing week.