Nadal’s physical beating before his first final in two years: “I found a way to survive”

Rafael Nadal has been on track for more than six hours in the last 24 hours at Bastard (Sweden) and the logical consequence of that physical beating was his refusal to compete alongside Casper Ruud the doubles semifinal they set this Saturday afternoon against the Brazilians Orlando Luz and Rafael Matos.

“I played four hours yesterday and two today. I want to play, but it’s not possible,” Nadal explained in his press conference, aware that his body needs rest to face his first ATP final in two years on Sunday with a greater guarantee. .

In fact, the Balearic tennis player needed 3h.59′ on Friday to defeat the Argentine in the quarterfinals. Mariano Navone (6-7, 7-5, 7-5), an effort that raised questions about his performance in Saturday’s semifinals. Rafa’s response was satisfactory and he managed to sign another comeback, this time against the Croatian Duje Ajdukovic (4-6, 6-3, 6-4) after 2h.12′ of play.

“It was a tough match. My opponent had one of the best backhands I’ve ever played and it was very difficult, but I found a way to survive and reach a final after a long time. It’s good news and I’m very happy with it,” acknowledged Manacorí, who at age 38 became the fourth oldest tennis player to reach the final after Ivo Karlovic (39 years), Stan Wawrinka (38) and Roger Federer (38).

“It’s a great feeling to be back in the final. I’ve won four matches in a row, something I haven’t achieved in two years,” Nadal said. In fact, since Wimbledon’2022When he reached his last semifinal before this week in Bastad, the Spanish player was without four wins in a row on the ATP circuit.

“A lot of things happened in the last two years, but I’m still in the process of recovering a lot of things that I lost because almost a year ago I had a very important hip operation,” Nadal recalled.

“Things weren’t that easy then, but I fought throughout the tournament to be where I am today, and I think matches like yesterday and today help improve a lot of things on the court. “I’m happy with that and we’ll see if I can play a little bit tomorrow,” added Rafa.

Nadal is doing important ground training in Bastad to prepare for the Olympic tournament for the Paris Games to be held Roland Garrosthe scene of his greatest sporting success, the 14 Parisian titles, the last in 2022.

Rafa has not played in a final since the match in which he won against him 22nd Grand Slam and his 92nd ATP title. Two years later, this Sunday (not before 2:00 pm/Movistar+) Nadal will fight again to win another trophy, which will be the 93rd of his tally and the 64th on earth.

Nadal will play his 131st last 20 years after playing his first, then aged just 17, in January 2004 at Auckland (New Zealand), another record adding to his illustrious career. That day he lost the battle Dominik Hrbatybut in August of that same 2004 he already premiered his record on Sopot (Poland).

In contrast, his rival in Sunday’s finals, Nuno BorgesAt 27 years old, he will play in his first ATP final after defeating the Argentine in the semifinals. Thiago Agustín Tirante by 6-3 and 6-4. The Spaniard, who already won the Bastad title in 2005, and the Portuguese, the world number 51, will cross the racket for the first time.