Rafael Nadalwinner of 92 ATP titles and finalist 38 other times, has the chance this Friday (not before 1:00 pm/Movistar+) to break a curse that has lasted too long for a tennis player in his category, champion of 22 Grand Slams: The Spaniard is looking for his first semi-final in two years, a consequence above all of the persistent injuries that have severely affected the latter stage of his career and prevented his regular participation on the circuit.
Nadal, former world No. 1 and now 261st in the ranking, will play for the first time against Mariano Navone (36th), another of the current Argentine youngsters fighting to establish themselves in professional tennis. The match corresponds to the quarterfinals of the ATP in Bastad land (Sweden)where Rafa traveled to prepare for the Olympic tournament of Games in Pariswhich will be the headquarters Roland Garrosthe most legendary phase of his career thanks to his 14 titles, 112 wins and only four losses.
The last time Nadal qualified for the semi-finals was in Wimbledon 2022but that time he couldn’t even face the court Nick Kyrgios due to an abdominal injury that bothered him so much in his long-suffering quarter-final victory over the American Taylor Fritzin five sets, 3-6, 7-5, 3-6, 7-5 and 7-6.
Being a purist, the last time the Spanish player played in the semi-finals Roland Garros of the same season of 2022, which was recalled for the serious injury of Alexander Zverev which forced the German to leave the railway in a wheelchair. Two days later, Nadal lost Casper Ruud in the final to win Paris for the 14th time, now his 92nd and final ATP title.
That year Nadal did not reach the semifinals. His long absence in 2023 due to injury (he played only two tournaments and four games) was later followed by an equally complicated return in 2024 in which he played only six tournaments and 14 games, with nine wins and five losses.
After two years, Nadal will try to qualify this Friday for his first semifinal in two years and continue to fine tune his set for the Paris Games. The first three bones are removed, Casper Ruud, Andrey Rublev and Tallon Griekspoorthe Spaniard has a good chance of being crowned champion in Bastad if he can maintain the good tone of the competition.
Bastard ATP
Quarterfinal program
FRIDAY (11:00 am)
D. Ajdukovic (Cro)-T. Monteiro (Bra)
Not before 1:00 pm:
R. Nadal (ESP)-M. Navone (Arg/4)
R. Carballés (ESP)-TA Tirante (Arg)
N. Borges (Por/7)-T. Skatov (Kaz)
Source: La Verdad
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