Rafael Nadal failed to claim his first ATP title since Roland Garros 2022 after a tough defeat in the Bastad final. Nuno Borges ousted the king of clay 6-3, 6-2 in an hour and 27 minutes, lifting his first ATP trophy at 27.
Nadal passed a couple of challenging duels in his first competitive week since the Roland Garros early exit. However, the 22-time Major winner did not like his level in the title clash, saying he lacked energy after missing so much action since the beginning of 2023.
Rafa struggled to impose his strokes, suffering a massive setback in the shortest rallies up to four strokes and dealing with issues behind the initial shot.
Nuno lost serve three times and grabbed 55% of the return points, converting them into five breaks from 12 opportunities, controlling the pace and toppling the king of clay in style.
Nadal followed the rival’s pace in the more advanced exchanges but could not maintain that level in the quickest ones, missing service winners and the efficiency with his first groundstroke. Rafa felt no physical issues after spending so many hours on the court, drawing positive vibes ahead of the Olympic Games.
Kicking off the most important duel of his career, Nuno denied a break point in the first game of the match with a forehand winner and landed another for a hold and a boost of confidence.
Rafael Nadal lost the Bastad final to Nuno Borges in straight sets.
Rafa offered his rival two break points in the second game and hit a double fault on the first, propelling his opponent 2-0 in front.
Nadal pulled the break back in the third game and missed a game point in the next one that could have brought him back to 2-2. The Spaniard sprayed a forehand error and experienced another break, falling 3-1 behind. Borges lost serve in the fifth game after a forehand mistake, keeping Nadal in contention.
The veteran could not gain momentum and produce a hold, getting broken for the third time in the sixth game after Nuno’s crafty drop shot winner. Serving at 4-2, the Portuguese held with a service winner, increasing the gap and keeping the pressure on the Spaniard.
Nadal held at 30 in game eight, prolonging the set and hoping for one last return chance at 3-5. Instead, Nuno held after Rafa’s backhand error, wrapping up the opener and moving closer to his first ATP title.
Nadal survived a break point in the first game of the second set and held. They served well in the next three games, with Rafa following the opponent’s pace. Borges generated a break point in the fifth game with a drop shot winner, and Nadal erased it with an unreturned serve.
However, the veteran experienced the second break point and played a loose drop shot, getting broken and falling a set a break down. Nuno opened a 4-2 gap with a forehand winner and kept pressure on Rafa on the return in the next one.
The Portuguese clinched a break with a forehand winner after the Spaniard’s short ball, opening a 5-2 gap and serving for the title in game eight. Nuno landed a forehand winner for three match points and converted the first with a service winner, toppling the king of clay and celebrating his first ATP title at 27.
The level of my tennis in the final was so far from what it should be. I had a long week with extended encounters, and the energy was low today. My body is fine and there is no damage; that’s important. However, I’m not used to competing in four competitive days and embracing long duels; it presented a mental and physical test,” Rafael Nadal said.
