Rafael Nadal has reached his first final since the 2022 French Open by rallying to beat Duje Ajdukovic 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 at the Nordea Open. After needing four hours to beat the 36th-ranked Mariano Navone in Friday’s quarterfinals, Nadal had a slow start against Ajdukovic and was a break down in the second set before turning things around.
Spain’s Rafael Nadal celebrates after winning his semifinal match against Croatia’s Duje Ajdukovic in the men’s singles Nordea Open in Bastad, Sweden , Saturday July 20, 2024. Spain’s Rafael Nadal plays a backhand during his semi-final men’s singles match against Croatia’s Duje Ajdukovic in the Nordea Open in Bastad, Sweden , Saturday July 20, 2024.
“My opponent had one of the best backhands that I played against,” Nadal said. “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.” Nadal will play Nuno Borges, who beat Thiago Agustin Tirante 6-3, 6-4 to reach his first tour-level final.
Nadal is playing at the tournament in Sweden for the first time since he won the title as a 19-year-old in 2005 as he prepares for the Olympic tournament on clay at Roland Garros in Paris.as he didn’t want to switch surface to grass and then back to clay and risk injury. He has been dealing with hip and abdominal injuries over the past 1 1/2 years.
Tennis French Open Tennis Championships Sports - Europe French Open Mariano Navone Sweden Sports S Duje Ajdukovic Thiago Agustin Tirante Nuno Borges
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