2024-07-22 03:01:00
Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal lost the final of the ATP 250 in Bastad against Portuguese Nuno Borges by 6-3 and 6-2. Nadal could not find answers to the high level that his rival demonstrated throughout the match.
A key factor in the match was fitness, as the Spaniard played several matches in a row for the first time in a long time, and on Friday he needed four hours to beat Argentine Mariano Navone.
Despite the defeat, Nadal rounded off a very good week in which he reached the final of a tournament for the first time since he achieved it at Roland Garros 2022, that is, more than two years ago.
After the defeat, Nadal said during the awards ceremony: “I had a lot of fun on the court, it’s been a long time since I’ve had that. Today wasn’t my best day, but all the credit goes to him (Borges), who did very well.”
Borges, for his part, could not hide his joy after winning his first ATP title: “I think I have been waiting for this moment for much longer. Something inside me was pushing me today, beyond the emotions.”
This tournament will help Nadal to continue building his good form ahead of his next big goal, which is the 2024 Paris Olympics. There he will go in search of his third gold medal, after those won in the singles at Beijing 2008 and the doubles at Rio 2016.
Meanwhile, in Gstaad, Italian Matteo Berrettini won his ninth title by defeating Frenchman Quentin Halys 6-3, 6-1.