The drought of Rafael Nadal without lifting a trophy since the 2022 Roland Garros final, played on June 5, also lasted in Bastad (Sweden), where the Balearic player, who was aiming for the title in a great and hopeful week, He succumbed to the Portuguese Nuno Borges, who achieved the first success of his career after winning 6-3 and 6-2.
The winner of 22 Grand Slams was unable to prolong the good feelings he has found in these seven days, and he ended up paying the price for the enormous effort, the eternal wear and tear, to which he has been subjected. Especially in the quarter-final duel against the Argentine Mariano Navone and also in the semi-finals against the Croatian Duje Ajdukovic, both resolved in three sets.
Nadal is going to Paris, to the Olympic event, his great objective and the real reason for his visit to Bastad, in this 250 event that he won nineteen years ago, in 2005, with good prospects that he could not round off with the trophy, snatched away by a less erratic, more consistent opponent, who he had never faced before and who did not suffer from his stay, for the first time, in a match for success.
The final was also a roller coaster. Of play, of ups and downs. Just as it happened in the two previous matches in which the 38-year-old from the Balearic Islands accumulated almost seven hours on the court. But on this occasion, there was no comeback. Nadal could not get back into the swing of things.
For the first time since the beginning of 2022 that Nadal managed to string together four consecutive wins in three-set matches The same thing happened in the title race. He started the match again at a disadvantage, with a climb to climb on the horizon. He lost his serve, which the Portuguese consolidated to take a 2-0 lead.
The serve is one of the issues that Rafael Nadal has to take into account, as he has not been able to stabilise his game or become strong with the serve. He often goes against the flow, including in this final. Nadal did not manage to win it until the fifth game, when he was already losing 5-2. His good return play kept him in the match.
Nadal came within 5-3, just one break of the presumed tie. But Nuno Borges who had never been in a similar situation and against such a strong opponent, took advantage of the situation, the moment of his life. He did not fail and tied the sleeve.
It was time to fight back. Just like he had against Navone and Ajdukovic. The Balearic player was hoping for a comeback, to secure his 93rd success, his 64th on clay. In fact, he started to serve better and held serve in the first two games of the next set. But Borges, the seventh seed, broke in the fifth game. And nothing could stop him. He won five games in a row and closed, in an hour and a half, an unthinkable victory. An unprecedented moment in his career.
“It’s difficult to play worse”: Rafael Nadal after the defeat
After the failure in the final, the Balearic tennis player shared his feelings and made it clear that he had a very bad day.
“I knew things weren’t going to be easy. I have to accept things as they come and work to improve.” I played very badly and I’m sad about that. I find it difficult to play worse than I did. I’ve been out of energy, although it’s normal because I haven’t competed for several days in a row. I’ve had long matches and Nuno Borges deserved to win“Nadal acknowledged in the press conference after the match.
Nadal said he had trained hard and thought he could win, but unfortunately for him he couldn’t play the way he wanted.
“I had a good feeling from training, but I haven’t been able to transfer it to the matches. The level of play has been far from what I had in training. I have to play much better to be competitive,” he said.
Finally, about the Paris 2024 Olympic Gameshis next tournament, in which he will compete in the singles and share doubles with Carlos Alcaraz, said he was happy for the opportunity to represent his country in the most important event in world sport.
“I am excited to be part of the Olympic team and represent Spain.. The Games are the most important event in sport. If I manage to play good tennis on an individual level, I will also do well in doubles, but I have to see what has happened this week. Carlos Alcaraz is going to be at a great level because he is coming with confidence and we will train together,” he concluded.
*With information from EFE.
Keep reading:
· Rafa Nadal celebrates winning four matches in a row after two years: “I found a way to survive”
· “I am very happy to be able to play with my idol”: Carlos Alcaraz on his duo with Rafael Nadal in Paris 2024
· Rafael Nadal leaves Roland Garros in peace: “I played a good match, I played without limitations”