The 22-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal is set to compete at the ATP 250 event in Bastad next week, marking his return to the tournament after his early exit at Roland Garros. This event will see Nadal playing both singles and doubles with Casper Ruud. Nadal’s history with Bastad is notable, having made his debut there as a 17-year-old in July 2003. He reached the quarter-finals in his first two appearances and won the title in 2005 after defeating players like Juan Monaco and Tommy Robredo.
Nadal is now returning to Bastad nearly two decades later, aiming for a strong performance as he prepares for the Paris Olympics. After skipping the grass court season following his Roland Garros loss, Nadal trained in Mallorca and Greece, focusing on clay in anticipation of the Olympics, his main goal for the season. He remains optimistic about his physical condition, having trained without issues recently, and hopes to carry that form into his matches.
Despite numerous injuries, Nadal remains determined to extend his career beyond 2024 if his body permits. His last appearance at Bastad was in 2005, and he looks forward to competing there again.
Nadal had a strong start in 2022, winning two Major titles, but an abdominal injury during Wimbledon and a hip injury at the Australian Open disrupted his season. These setbacks led to his longest break from the sport, missing the rest of the season before planning his return in 2024. His comeback at the ATP 250 event in Brisbane showed promise, with victories over Dominic Thiem and Jason Kubler, but he was defeated in the quarter-finals by Jordan Thompson after squandering three match points and enduring physical strain.
Following another setback in Doha due to abdominal pain, Nadal focused on the clay season. He struggled initially, losing to Alex de Minaur in Barcelona after a 100-day hiatus, but improved in Madrid, winning three matches before falling in the fourth round. In Rome, Nadal faced a challenging match against Hubert Hurkacz, suffering one of his worst losses on clay.
Nadal’s early exit at Roland Garros came after a tough draw against world no. 4 Alexander Zverev. Despite a valiant effort, Nadal was defeated in straight sets, marking his earliest exit from the tournament. Nadal continued to train on clay post-Paris, preparing for the Olympics with hopes of securing medals in both singles and doubles, teaming up with Carlos Alcaraz.
Follow Rafa to the practice court and you might get a surprise at the end😃#nordeaopen #båstad #tennis #wta pic.twitter.com/7AmETPPmA4
— Nordea Open (@NordeaOpen) July 11, 2024