BASTAD, Sweden — Rafael Nadal reached his first final since the 2022 French Open by rallying to beat Duje Ajdukovic 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 on Saturday at the clay-court Nordea Open.
After needing four hours to beat 36th-ranked Mariano Navone in Friday's quarter-finals, Nadal got off to a slow start against Ajdukovic and was a break down in the second set before turning things around.
“My opponent had one of the best backhands I've ever played against,” Nadal said. “It was very, very difficult, honestly, but I found a way to survive and get to that final after a long time without being in a final. So it's great news and I'm very happy about it.”
Nadal will play against Nuno Borges or Thiago Agustín Tirante in the final.
Nadal is playing in the tournament in Sweden for the first time since winning the title as a 19-year-old in 2005 as he prepares for the Olympic clay-court tournament at Roland Garros in Paris.
Nadal, 38, did not compete at Wimbledon because he did not want to switch surfaces to grass and then return to clay and risk injury. He has been dealing with hip and abdominal injuries for a year and a half.
