We caught a glimpse of the King of Clay at the Bastad Open with his run to the final of the tournament, his first final since the 2022 French Open. Rafael Nadal has struggled with hip and abdominal injuries of late and his return to the sport for what may well be his swansong hasn’t been straightforward. However, his recent deep run in Bastad provides a glimmer of hope that there’s more to come from the Spaniard.
Rafael Nadal in 2024
His 2024 campaign started with promise in Brisbane where he reached the quarterfinals after defeating Dominic Thiem and Jason Kubler. During his match against Jordan Thompson, he sustained a micro tear on a muscle, forcing him to miss the Australian Open. He returned for clay-court season, kicking off at the Barcelona Open. His preparation for the French Open, also include the Madrid Open and the Italian Open. But despite plenty of effort, his results were not where he would have liked.
In the first round at the French Open, he faced an in-form Alexander Zverev who had arrived in Paris with momentum following his successful campaign in Rome. On Court Philippe Chatrier, watchful eyes observed the match including the likes of old rival Novak Djokovic, Iga Swiatek, and Carlos Alcaraz. However, it was clear from the get-go that the Nadal who had won 14 titles in Paris with dexterity and brilliance was not the player he onc had been. He still however gave it his all, striking a handful of his trademark forehands but it wasn’t enough to win a set, nevermind the match and Nadal slumped to a 3-6 6-7 3-6 defeat.
“If it’s the last time I play here, then I am at peace with myself. I tried everything for two years to be ready for this. I lost but that is part of the business,” Nadal said after the match.
Despite this loss, Nadal’s fighting spirit was on full display in Båstad. At the Swedish Open, he made a deep run to the final of the tournament, defeating Leo Borg, Cameron Norrie, Mariano Navone, and Duje Ajduković. In the final, he faced 27-year-old Nuno Borges who was competing in his first ATP final. The Portuguese player took the victory 6-3 6-2, but despite this loss, remnants of the King of Clay were visible throughout the tournament, perhaps ready to strike in Paris this month.
Olympic Preparations
Tennis at the Paris Olympics will be held on the clay courts of Roland Garros. To avoid the change in surfaces – typically taxing on the body – Nadal skipped grass season, including the all-important Wimbledon. Nadal said on his social media, “With this goal [competing at the Olympics], we believe that the best for my body is not to change surface and keep playing on clay until then.”
Nadal won singles gold in 2008 at the Beijing Olympics and doubles gold in Rio in 2016 alongside Marc Lopez. He is set to enter both the singles and doubles draw in Paris. 2024 Roland Garros and Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz will be partnering Nadal to represent Spain. This will be Alcaraz’s Olympic debut.
Nadal is a seasoned champion and with some runs at clay tournaments under his belt. The world will be watching with bated breath as the Spaniard steps onto the clay courts of Roland Garros, a second chance this year, a court where he has made history before. Can he do it again? The answer is surely no and yet… well, stranger things have happened.
Main photo credit: Mike Frey-USA TODAY Sports
