By Richard Pagliaro | @TennisNow | Saturday, July 20, 2024
Rafael Nadal rallied past Duje Ajdukovic 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 into the Bastad final, his first final since he beat Casper Ruud in the 2022 French Open final.
Photo credit: Adam Ihse/TT Agency/Getty
Marathon man Rafael Nadal showed a convincing closing kick in Bastad.
A day after Nadal outlasted Mariano Navone in an epic four-hour quarterfinal—the longest three-setter on the ATP Tour this year—he played catch-up again.
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Roaring back from a break and a set down, Nadal defeated qualifier Duje Ajdukovic 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 to charge into the Bastad final.
It is Nadal’s 131st career title match and first final since the 2022 Roland Garros title match where he conquered Casper Ruud to take the title.
“I think have been a very tough match the opponent had one of the best backhands that I played against,” Nadal said. “He came here with a lot of confidence. I was trying to push him back. [It] was very, very difficult honestly.
“I found a way to survive and get to the final after not being in a final for a long, long time. So it’s great news and I’m happy for that.”
Continuing his quest for his 93rd career championship, Nadal will play either seventh-seeded Nuno Borges in the Bastad final tomorrow.
Borges beat Thiago Agustin Tirante 6-3, 6-4 in today's second semifinal.
This final run comes 19 years after Nadal ruled Bastad as he further fuels his preparation for this month’s Paris Olympic Games staged at Roland Garros.
Thirteen months removed from hip surgery, Nadal will contest his 72nd career clay-court final armed with an astounding 63-8 record in finals played on dirt.
“Always is a great feeling to be back in the final,” Nadal said. “I won four matches in a row—something I have not been able to make happen since two years ago.
“Still in the process of recovering things I lost because I had very important hip surgery almost one year ago. But I am fighting. I fight the whole tournament to be where I am today. I think matches like yesterday and today helps me to be where I am on court. Let's see if I’m able to play a little bit better tomorrow.”
Understandably depleted and a bit sore after playing the four-hour epic that was the second-longest three-setter of his career, Nadal looked a little flat-footed and creaky at the very start of this semifinal.
In contrast, the 23-year-old Croatian qualifier was cracking the ball with dangerous intent.
Dissatisfied with his backhand in his marathon win over Mariano Navone, Nadal missed his two-hander to face double break point.
In an ideal start, Ajdukovic broke at 15.
The 38-year-old Nadal was showing some effects of that four-hour marathon win. Moving a little stiffly at times and sometimes lunging with his arm rather than taking the extra step toward the ball, Nadal was playing catch-up from the start.
The 14-time Roland Garros champion has ripped his lefty topspin forehand to the opponent’s backhand throughout his career.
On this day, Ajdukovic two hander was firing with venom at the start.
Opening and closing the third game with backhand bolt winners, the qualifier flipped the script with a strong 3-0 double-break lead.
There’s a lot to like about the world No. 130’s game. Ajdukovic was attacking anything Nadal left short in the court and and he showed the skill to drive his two-hander down the line, surprising the Spaniard early.
Honesty is an asset too: At one point, Ajdukovic accidentally used Nadal’s towel (they were both using identical tagless white towels), he realized it and immediately reported it asking the ball kid to get a fresh towel for Nadal.
Slamming down a leaping smash, Nadal threw a clenched fist showing his first real signs of emotion. Some fans were chanting “Let’s Go Rafa Let’s Go!” Nadal answered the calls breaking back in the fourth game.
Facing break point for the third serve game in a row, Nadal carved out a jaw-dropping drop shot winner to save it and navigate a tense hold.
Pushing forward, Ajdukovic flicked a high backhand volley that sat up but Nadal couldn’t respond as the qualifier held for 5-3.
Loosening up as the set progressed and adrenaline kicked in, Nadal stamped a love hold for 4-5 forcing Ajdukovic to serve out the set.
The 23-year-old qualifier loves playing the leaping Marcelo Rios-style backhand. Ajdukovic landed that shot twice in a row for double set point.
Sometimes jamming his two-hander into Nadal’s backhand wing, Ajdukovic served out the 45-minute opener at 15 for a one-set lead.
The pair traded breaks to start the second set. The qualifier showed his first sign of nerves when, up a set and a break, he double-faulted and badly bungled a smash into the bottom of the net handing back the break.
Holding a 30-love lead in the sixth game, Ajdukovic blinked.
On game point, he was hit with a foot fault call—that was at least the third infraction of the day—then sailed a backhand to drop to deuce. Nadal induced two more quick errors, stealing the break and a 4-2 second-set lead.
From a break down at the start of the set, Nadal tore through 12 of his next 13 service points stretching his lead to 5-2.
The 22-time Grand Slam champion crushed a couple of forehand strikes down the line to wrap his third love hold of the set and force a decider.
As Nadal began reading the direction of Ajdukovic’s drives, the qualifier was pressing more. Catching his opponent adrift in no man’s land, Nadal nailed a backhand right down the middle opening the third set with the crucial break.
It was Nadal’s fourth break in as many chances.
Nadal held firm to back up the break—his fifth of the last six games—for a 2-0 lead.
Ajdukovic won eight of nine points as he broke back in the sixth game to level.
Inexplicably, the qualifier played a volley right back at Nadal, who rapped a pass. That sequence helped Nadal break back for a 4-3 lead.
Tremendous hand skills helped Nadal confirm the break. Down double break point, Nadal showed soft touch with the serve and volley drop volley winner. The Spaniard saved a second break point with a stinging serve.
The two-time Olympic gold-medal champion served out a two hour, 12-minute win for his first final since the 2022 French Open final.