The final is set at the Swedish Open in Bastad and we have a mouthwatering matchup on our hands. Rafael Nadal is back in a final for the first time in 25 months, and Nuno Borges is in an ATP final for the first time in his career. It will be a big day for both and they will give their all to win the trophy. Would Nadal win clay court title No. 64, or would Borges win his maiden clay court title? As always, we here at LWOT will offer our prediction for the ATP Bastad final.
ATP Bastad Final Prediction
Rafael Nadal vs Nuno Borges
Head-to-Head: First meeting
Rafael Nadal won the Swedish Open back in 2005 as a 19-year-old, and he has the chance to win it in 2024 as a 34-year-old. It is admirable he still wants it after such a great career and so many years. Nadal arrived at the tournament well-rested, having skipped the grass season. He made a great start to the tournament with two straight-set wins in the first couple of rounds, but since then, he has been tested severely. He has played over six hours of tennis in the last two days and had to fight from a set down in his last two matches. His movement improved with every match but the concentration is missing at times. The return of serve has been his weakest point this week, and he will need to improve for the final.
Before this week, Nuno Borges had a four-match losing streak on the tour. However, he dropped only one set this week, earning his maiden ATP tour final. Borges served incredibly against Thiago Agustin Tirante. It has been a great week for Borges, and he will achieve a new career high on Monday, no matter the result of the final. He will have his chances against Nadal but the biggest thing for him would be to not think about who is on the other side of the net and play his fearless game.
Nadal has won 17 consecutive finals on clay and his last loss was to Andy Murray in Madrid, 2015. He is not at his best anymore, but he has shown glimpses of his best tennis, and the endurance and fighting spirit are still there. Borges will make it hard and might dominate at times in this match, but the King of Clay will reign supreme in the end.
Prediction: Nadal in 3
Main Photo Credit: Mike Frey – USA TODAY Sports
