He is 38 years old, he is about to retire, he has been hit many times by injuries, he has experienced everything and more in the world of tennis and yet, his celebration after reaching the semifinals of ATP in Bastad (Sweden) This is more typical of a newcomer.
Rafael Nadal roaring with happiness after winning a painful 3h.59′ match, this time against the Argentine Mariano Navone (6-7, 7-5, 7-5), the second-longest three-set match of his career, surpassed only by 4h.02′ of the semifinals of Madrid Masters 1,000 who won Novak Djokovic in 2009.
The passion for his sport has always been a hallmark of Nadal, who expressed in that massive celebration the competitive desire that he has maintained in the last phase of his career, now focused on preparing for some Olympic Games in Paris which looks better when argued this time in the land of Roland Garroswhere he reigned 14 times.
Conditioned by injuries for a long time, the Balearic tennis player has not played in a final definite beginning. 22nd Grand Slam and 92nd title overall won in Paris in 2022. This Saturday (1:00 pm/Movistar+) he will have the chance to do so two years later if he beats the Croatian in the Bastad semifinals Duje Ajdukovic23 years old and world number 130.
In fact, the Manacorí player has not qualified for a semifinal since then Wimbledon 2022but then he was unable to compete as an abdominal injury prevented him from taking the court after the discomfort was acute in a five-set victory over Taylor Fritz in the quarterfinals.
“We’ll see how I am on Saturday, but now I’m alive and in the semi-finals, so it is very important for me. Against Navone I lost concentration for a few moments, but I was able to physically hold on until in the end,” Nadal said on the same court after his epic victory over the Argentine.
After his match against Ajdukovic and the other semi-final in between Thiago Agustín Tirante and Nuno Borges and enough rest time, Nadal still has a match scheduled in Bastad, the doubles semifinals with the Norwegian Casper Ruudboth facing the Brazilians Orlando Luz and Rafael Matos. Rafa also needs filming there because he will form an amazing double at the Paris Games together Carlos Alcaraz.
Nadal will not be the only Spanish semi-finalist on Saturday, because Pedro Martinez also reached that round at Hamburg ATP (Germany)where the defending champion, local idol, world No. 4 and main favorite, Alexander Zverevthe tennis player with the most victories this season (43).
ATP Semifinals
Saturday
Bastard ATP (Sweden)
1:00 p.m.:
R. Nadal (ESP)-D. Ajdukovic (Cro)
TA Tie Rod (Arg)-N. Borges (By)
The
Hamburg ATP (Germany)
3:30 p.m.:
S. Báez (Arg/3)-A. Fils (Fra/5)
A. Zverev (Ale/1)-P. Martínez (ESP)
The
Gstaad ATP (Switzerland)
11:00 a.m.:
JL Struff (Ale/5)-Q. Halys (Fra)
Not before 1:30 pm:
S. Tsitsipas (Gre/1)-M. Berrettini (Ita/6).
The
TheNewport ATP (USA)
Not before 7:00 pm:
R. Opelka (USA)-A. Michelsen (USA/3)
C. Eubanks (USA/4)-M . Giron (USA/2)
Source: La Verdad
I’m Robert Maynard, and I am a passionate journalist with experience in sports writing. For the last few years, I have been writing for Today Times Live. My main focus has been on sports-related stories and features. With my strong background in journalism and extensive knowledge of the industry, I am able to provide readers with well-crafted pieces that are both informative and engaging.
