Rafael Nadal comes from behind to book Nordea Open final spot with win over Duje Ajdukovic - 'Found a way to survive'
Updated 20/07/2024 at 16:51 GMT+1
Rafael Nadal ramped up his preparations for the Olympic Games in Paris, as he showed character and resilience to come from a set down against Duje Ajdukovic to win 4-6 6-3 6-4 and book a spot in the Nordea Open final. Nadal will face Nuno Borges in the final in Bastad. Following his victory, Nadal withdrew from the doubles semi-finals where he was playing alongside partner Casper Ruud.
Nadal comes from behind to see off Ajdukovic and reach final in Bastad
Video credit: SNTV
Rafael Nadal said he "found a way to survive" after he booked a spot in the Nordea Open final by coming from a set behind to beat qualifier Duje Ajdukovic 4-6 6-3 6-4 in Bastad, Sweden.
Nadal, who has suffered an injury-hit year which forced him to miss both the Australian Open and Wimbledon, has tuned up his return to action in an impressive manner in the Swedish clay event.
The victory means the 14-time Roland-Garros winner is back in a tour-level final for the first time since the French Grand Slam in 2022, and serves as strong preparation for the Olympic Games later this month, which will take place on the iconic Parisian clay courts.
“I think it was a tough match," Nadal said in his on-court interview. "My opponent had one of the best backhands that I played against.
"He came here with a lot of confidence. I think I was trying to push him back. 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.”
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Nadal's semi-final test came just a day after a gruelling four-hour win over Mariano Navone, the second-longest three-set match of his career.
The Spaniard slumped to a sloppy start, hitting wide and long to surrender his opening service game. Ajoukovic swiftly doubled down by going a double break ahead, leaving the 22-time Grand Slam winner with an early mountain to climb.
Nadal recovered and reduced the lead to 3-2, breaking and holding for the first time in the match. But the flurry of breaks soon ended with both trading service games until a comfortable 6-4 conclusion to the opening set for qualifier Ajdukovic.
The 38-year-old scuppered his opening service game, but recovered quickly to restore parity at 1-1. There were some clumsy moments from Nadal, including a frame shot on a return to concede the game for 2-2.
But there were also flashes of trademark Nadal brilliance, with deep groundstrokes and deft play at the net adding a dynamism that Ajdukovic did not have to deal with in the first set. The Spaniard grew into the match, and produced a stunning approach drop shot to seize a 4-2 advantage in the set.
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'I've been fighting through the whole tournament’ – Nadal delighted to make final in Bastad
Video credit: SNTV
Nadal, who missed the Australian Open and Wimbledon so far this year through injury, broke again to go within one game of levelling the match. Ajdukovic duly held.
At 5-3, the pair exchanged the most combative point of the match so far, with Nadal baiting Ajoukovic deep into the far right corner before unleashing an inch-perfect forehand down the line. The former world No. 1 was in his groove, and held to love for the set.
Spurred on by sporadic "let's go Rafa let's go" chants from young contingents of the Bastad crowd, Nadal raced into a 3-0 lead in the deciding set - twice breaking Ajdukovic - with a steely resilience, prompting unforced errors from his qualifier opponent.
But the Croatian viciously bit back by hitting a double break of his own, restoring parity at 3-3, dictating the play from the back of the court and keeping Nadal in deep in the corners.
The decisive moment came when Nadal rallied to regain control and break his opponent for 4-3. The clay master did not shy away from bringing Ajdukovic to the net, and capitalised with a sublime backhand pass and a fortutious unforced error via the Croatian's frame.
Despite being pushed to break point, Nadal recovered with deft net play to hold. And while Ajdukovic momentarily stopped the charge for 5-4, he could not prevent the 38-year-old from wrapping up proceedings to book a spot in the final against Portuguese Nuno Borges.
Borges overcame Thiago Agustin Tirante 6-3 6-4 to set up a meeting with the veteran.
With the Nordea Open final and the upcoming Olympic Games in mind, where he will be looking to add to his one Olympic medal in Paris, Nadal instantly withdrew from the doubles competition following his triumph on Saturday.
He was due to play in the semi-final alongside partner Casper Ruud later in the day but forfeited the clash, which meant Brazilian duo Orlando Luz and Rafael Matos moved into Sunday's final.
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