Rafael Nadal is thrilled to be in his first ATP final in two years at the Bastad Open.
After easily beating Leo Borg and Cameron Norrie, Nadal faced a tough challenge against Mariano Navone. The match lasted nearly four hours, ending with a score of 6-7, 7-5, 7-5.
Nadal then battled Croatian qualifier Duje Ajdukovic in the semifinals. Despite needing less time than his previous match, it was still a hard-fought victory .
He came back from a set and break down to win 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 and reach Sunday’s final. “I think it was a tough match,” Nadal said. “The opponent had one of the best backhands I’ve played against… I found a way to survive.”
| Name | Age | Points | Stats 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rafael Nadal | 38 | 215 | 7 - 5 |
Emotional Journey:
This win is special for Nadal because he hasn’t been in an ATP final since winning Roland Garros in 2022. He had surgery for a serious hip injury that kept him out for almost all of 2023. When he returned earlier this year, he injured his hip again.
Fans probably feel excited about Nadal’s comeback.
Winning four matches in a row is huge for him and boosts his confidence. “It’s always great to be in a final,” he said. “I won four matches in a row… A lot of things happened.”
“But I’m fighting,” he added. “Matches like yesterday and today help improve many things on court.”
Nadal has shown incredible resilience this week. He will face Portugal’s Nuno Borges in the final as he chases his 93rd career title.
What do you think about Nadal’s chances?
