Rafael Nadal missed almost the entire 2023 season, injuring his left hip in Melbourne and embracing the most extended break of his career. The veteran made a return this season, winning 12 of 19 matches but failing to reach his A-game.

Nadal’s best result came in Bastad ahead of the Olympic Games. Rafa returned to the ATP 250 event for the first time since 2005 and reached the title clash, his first in over two years. Nadal earned a notable milestone, becoming the fourth player in the Open era with a clay-court ATP final after turning 38.

Legendary Richard Pancho Gonzales achieved that during the South American swing at the beginning of 1968. Ken Rosewall turned 38 a couple of years later and stood strong on clay until 1976, reaching multiple finals and standing as the oldest clay-court finalist in the Open era.

Stan Wawrinka joined two legends in Umag last year, becoming the third-oldest clay-court finalist in the Open era. Stan turned 38 in March and reached the Umag final in July, winning the opening set before falling in three sets.

Nadal joined the exclusive list a couple of weeks ago in Bastad, stopping the clock and achieving his best result since the 2022 Roland Garros. The veteran fell to Alexander Zverev in the first round at Roland Garros and stayed on clay, skipping Wimbledon and training in Mallorca and Greece.

Rafa entered his final pre-Olympic Games event in Bastad, returning to this event for the first time since winning the title in 2005. Nadal faced Bjorn Borg’s son Leo in the first round, earning a 6-3, 6-4 triumph, his first in over two months.

The veteran served at 74% and faced no break points, mounting the pressure on the young gun. Leo fought well, especially in the second set, facing only four break points and losing serve once in each set. Rafa grabbed a break in the fourth game of the opening set after a drop shot winner and produced a hold at 15 in the next one for 4-1.

Borg climbed back from 0-30 in the eighth game, providing a hold and extending the battle.

Rafael Nadal is the fourth-oldest clay-court finalist.

Nadal served for the opener in game nine and clinched it with service winners, building the advantage after 42 minutes.

The Spaniard earned another break in the first game of the second set and landed a forehand winner in the next one for a 6-3, 2-0 lead. Borg served well after that loose service game, following Nadal’s pace but struggling to make a push on the return.

Leo served to stay in the match at 3-5 and closed the game with a forehand winner. Rafa served for the win in game ten and sealed the deal with a service winner, moving into the second round. Nadal met Cameron Norrie in the second round and prevailed 6-4, 6-4 in an hour and 43 minutes, notching his second quarter-final of the season and the first since Brisbane.

Rafa landed in 72% of the first serve and defended three of four break points. Nadal stole 41% of the return points and turned them into three breaks from seven opportunities.

The king of clay scored a break in the seventh game of the opening set and defended two break points while serving for the set at 5-4, building an initial advantage.

Norrie moved 4-1 in front in the second set before Nadal stepped in, rattling off five games and sealing the deal in straight sets. Rafa faced world no. 36 Mariano Navone in the quarter-final and earned an epic 6-7, 7-5, 7-5 triumph in three hours and 59 minutes!

Nadal faced 15 break points and lost serve eight times, working hard to overcome that deficit. Navone played against 21 break points and lost serve ten times, giving everything against the legend but falling short after losing serve in the closing stages of sets two and three.

Rafa lost serve three times in a row in the opening set. He bounced back and defended four set points on the return to reach a tie break. Navone made a fresh start and clinched four mini-breaks for 7-2 and a boost.

Nadal led 3-0 in the second set before losing the advantage.

Mariano led 5-4 before Rafa stepped in and claimed the final three games, stealing the set 7-5 and forcing a decider. Nadal grabbed three straight breaks in the final set, leading 5-2 and serving for the triumph two times. Navone secured two breaks in games eight and ten, extending the battle before Nadal grabbed a crucial break at 5-5 and moved over the top with a fine hold in game 12.

Rafa stepped on the court a day later against Duje Ajdukovic and secured a 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory, moving into his first ATP final since June 2022. Nadal raised his level in the second set and grabbed three breaks in the decider to emerge at the top.

Thus, the veteran set the title clash against Nuno Borges. With little left in the tank, Rafa experienced a 6-3, 6-2 loss, settling with the runner-up prize. Borges sealed the deal in an hour and 27 minutes, losing serve two times and delivering five breaks from 12 opportunities.