In an exciting comeback, one of the greatest tennis legends, Rafael Nadal, a 22-time Grand Slam champion, has advanced to his first ATP final in two years.
Despite being currently ranked at No. 160 in the world due to various injuries and age-related challenges, the 6-foot-1 superstar defeated 23-year-old Croatian player, Duje Ajduković, ranked at No. 130, in their semifinal match at the ATP 250 Nordea Open in Bastad, Sweden. Nadal made an impressive comeback after losing the first set, securing a 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory.
In the upcoming final, Nadal will face off against 27-year-old Portuguese player, Nuno Borges, to compete for his 93rd career ATP singles victory. Borges, seeded as No. 7 in the tournament, is currently ranked at No. 51 globally.
Regarded as the finest men’s clay court player in the Open era, Nadal aims to secure his 64th win on that surface.
Reflecting on his tough semifinal match, Nadal shared, “It was a very tough match. He has one of the best backhands that I’ve played against, and he came here with a lot of confidence. I think I was trying to push him back, and it was very, very difficult, but I found a way to survive.”
Despite challenges, Nadal showed resilience by overcoming a set and a break down to make it to the final. Excited about his achievement, he remarked, “Always, it’s a great feeling to be back in a final. I won four matches in a row, something I wasn’t able to make happen since two years ago.”
Looking ahead, Nadal remains focused on preparing for the 2024 Paris Olympics, set to take place at Roland Garros, where he has secured a record 14 French Open titles.