Rafael Nadal falls in Nordea Open final, his first since 2022 French Open

NEW DELHI: Rafael Nadal's winning streak at the clay-court Nordea Open came to an end on Sunday when he was defeated by Nuno Borges in the final.
The seventh-seeded Portuguese player secured his first ATP tour victory by breaking Nadal's serve five times, winning the match 6-3, 6-2.
This was Nadal's first final appearance since the 2022 French Open. Despite being the favourite, Borges acknowledged the unexpected nature of his victory, stating, "It’s crazy, in tennis it doesn’t happen when you expect it sometimes.I know we all wanted Rafa to win, a part of me wished that too, but something even bigger inside of me really pushed through today."

Formerly winning the trophy as a 19-year-old, Nadal was using the tournament as preparation for the upcoming Olympic tournament on clay at Roland Garros in Paris.
The 38-year-old Spaniard had skipped Wimbledon to avoid switching surfaces and risking injury, as he has been dealing with hip and abdominal issues over the past 1 1/2 years.
While Nadal's winning run at the Nordea Open ended prematurely, his participation in the tournament served as a valuable warm-up for the upcoming Olympic event on his preferred clay surface.
Borges's unexpected triumph showcased the unpredictable nature of tennis, where even the most accomplished players can face unexpected challenges from rising talents.