Rafael Nadal has reached his first final since winning the 2022 French Open, defeating Croatian qualifier Duje Ajdukovic in a hard-fought three-set match at the Bastad Open on Saturday.
Nadal, a 22-time Grand Slam champion, faced a determined challenge from the world number 130, who had only won two tour-level matches prior to this week. Ajdukovic took the opening set, but Nadal rallied to win the next two, claiming a 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory.
This marks Nadal’s return to the final of a tournament he won as a teenager back in 2005. He will now face either Portuguese seventh seed Nuno Borges or Argentina’s Thiago Agustin Tirante on Sunday in his quest for his 93rd career singles title.
Nadal’s most recent singles victory came two years ago at Roland Garros, where he secured his record-extending 14th French Open title. He is using the Bastad tournament as preparation for the Paris Olympics, where the tennis competition will be held on the clay courts of Roland Garros.
The 38-year-old Nadal, who returned to action this week after a first-round exit at the French Open in late May, is also scheduled to play in the doubles later on Saturday alongside Casper Ruud.
