Rafael Nadal marked a significant milestone in his illustrious career by reaching his first final since the 2022 French Open. The Spanish tennis icon rallied to defeat Croatia’s Duje Ajdukovic 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 at the clay-court Nordea Open on Saturday.
After a grueling four-hour quarterfinal against Argentina’s Mariano Navone, where he fought hard to advance, Nadal started slowly against Ajdukovic. Facing an early setback and a break down in the second set, the 38-year-old showcased his trademark resilience and strategic prowess to turn the match around.
“My opponent had one of the best backhands that I played against,” Nadal reflected after the match. “It was very, very difficult, honestly, but I found a way to survive and be through to that final after a long time without being in a final. So that’s great news and I’m very happy with that.”
The victory sets up a final showdown with Portugal’s Nuno Borges, who advanced to his first Tour-level final by defeating Argentina’s Thiago Agustin Tirante 6-3, 6-4.
Nadal’s appearance at the Nordea Open marks his return to the tournament in Sweden since he clinched the title as a 19-year-old in 2005. His participation is part of his preparation to compete on clay at Roland Garros during the Paris Summer Olympics.
Opting to skip Wimbledon this year, Nadal made a strategic decision to focus on clay courts, aiming to minimize the risk of injury by avoiding a switch to grass surfaces. His recent struggles with hip and abdominal issues over the past eighteen months have influenced this careful approach to his schedule.
As Nadal continues his journey, fans worldwide eagerly anticipate his performance in the final and his future endeavors on the international stage.
Reference(s):
Nadal reaches first final since 2022 French Open by beating Ajdukovic
cgtn.com
