Rafael Nadal took five against Nuno Borges in the Bastad final.
Rafael Nadal suffered a tough defeat in the Bastad final, denying him his first ATP championship since Roland Garros 2022. Nuno Borges defeated the king of clay 6-3, 6-2, in an hour and 27 minutes, winning his first ATP title at the age of 27.
Nadal won a couple of tough matches in his first competitive week since his early Roland Garros exit. However, the 22-time Major winner expressed dissatisfaction with his performance in the title match, claiming he lacked vitality after missing so much activity since the beginning of 2023.
Rafa struggled to enforce his strokes, incurring a big deficit in the shortest rallies of up to four strokes and dealing with troubles after the initial shot.
Nuno dropped service three times and took 55% of the return points, converting them into five breaks from 12 chances, dictating the pace and dethroning the king of clay in style.
Nadal matched the rival’s speed in the more advanced exchanges but fell short in the quickest, missing service winners and losing effectiveness with his opening groundstroke. Rafa reported no physical difficulties after spending so many hours on the court, indicating a healthy outlook ahead of the Olympic Games.
Nuno avoided a break point in the first game of the match with a forehand winner before landing another for a hold and a confidence boost.
Rafael Nadal lost the Bastad final to Nuno Borges in straight sets.
Rafa gave his foe two break points in the second game and committed a double fault in the first, putting his opponent ahead 2-0.
Nadal regained the lead in the third game but lost a game point in the following one, which would have brought him back to 2-2. The Spaniard made a forehand inaccuracy and suffered another break, falling 3-1 behind. Borges lost serve in the sixth game due to a forehand error, leaving Nadal in danger.
The veteran was unable to generate momentum and make a hold, being broken for the third time in six games by Nuno’s brilliant drop shot victory. Serving at 4-2, the Portuguese held with a service winner, extending the lead and putting pressure on the Spaniard.
Nadal held at 30 in game eight, extending the set and looking for one more return opportunity at 3-5. Instead, Nuno held on Rafa’s backhand error to close out the opener and move closer to his maiden ATP victory.
In the first game of the second set, Nadal saved a break point and held. They served effectively over the next three games, with Rafa matching the opponent’s tempo. Borges created a break point in the fifth game with a drop shot winner, which Nadal erased with an unreturned serve.
However, at the second break point, the veteran played a wayward drop shot, which resulted in a break and a set loss. Nuno opened a 4-2 lead with a forehand winner, putting pressure on Rafa in the next game.
In game eight, the Portuguese won a break point with a forehand winner off the Spaniard’s short ball, building a 5-2 lead and serving for the title. Nuno struck a forehand winner for three match opportunities and converted the first with a service winner to dethrone the king of clay and win his first ATP title at 27.
“My tennis performance in the final was far from satisfactory. I had a long week of extended encounters, so my energy was low today. My body is fine and there is no injury, which is crucial. However, I’m not used to playing across four days and enduring long duels; it was a mental and physical challenge,” Rafael Nadal stated.