Rafael Nadal makes first final in two years at Bastad

TOI Sports Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Jul 20, 2024, 19:29 IST

Text Size

Small
Medium
Large

Rafael Nadal reached his first final since winning the 2022 French Open, defeating Croatian qualifier Duje Ajdukovic in a three-set tussle in Bastad on Saturday. A day after his four-hour quarter-final victory, the 22-time Grand Slam champion was again tested to the limit by Ajdukovic, the world number 130 who had won just two tour-level matches before this week.

Rafael Nadal makes first final in two years at Bastad

Rafael Nadal (AFP photo)

NEW DELHI: Rafael Nadal advanced to his first final since winning the 2022 French Open, overcoming Croatian qualifier Duje Ajdukovic in a three-set match in Bastad on Saturday.
After a grueling four-hour quarter-final the previous day, the 22-time Grand Slam champion faced another tough challenge from Ajdukovic, the world number 130, ultimately prevailing 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.
Nadal, who won the Bastad tournament as a teenager in 2005, will compete for his 93rd singles title on Sunday.
His opponent will be either Portuguese seventh seed Nuno Borges or Argentina's Thiago Agustin Tirante. The Spaniard's last tournament win was at Roland Garros two years ago.

Nadal is using the Bastad event to prepare for the Paris Olympics, where the tennis competitions will also take place on the clay courts of Roland Garros.
The 38-year-old returned to action this week for the first time since being eliminated in the first round of the French Open in late May.
He is scheduled to play in the doubles later on Saturday alongside Casper Ruud.

About the Author

TOI Sports Desk

The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide. From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more. The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive match reports and insightful post-match commentary, complemented by stats-based articles that provide an in-depth analysis of player performances and team dynamics. We track news wires for key stories, conduct exclusive player interviews in both text and video formats, and file content from print editions and reporters. We keep track of all viral stories, trending topics and produce our own copies on the subjects. We deliver accurate, engaging, and up-to-the-minute sports content, round the clock.

End of Article