BASTAD/WASHINGTON, July 19, 2024 (by Michael Dickens)
If there was ever any doubt about Rafael Nadal’s mental or physical strength and fortitude, fear not.
On Friday afternoon, Nadal won the second-longest best-of-3-sets match of his storied career — just four minutes shy of his epic four-hour, three-minute victory over Novak Djokovic at Madrid in 2009 — as he battled past No. 4 seed Mariano Navone of Argentina, 6-7 (2), 7-5, 7-5, in three hours and 59 minutes to advance to the semifinal round of the ATP 250 Nordea Open in Bastad, Sweden.
The 38-year-old Spaniard, ranked 265th and entered with a wild card, reached the Bastad semifinals for the second time in his career — and first since he won the 2005 title in the Swedish summer resort town. Next, Nadal will play 130th-ranked qualifier Duje Ajdukovic of Croatia, who defeated No. 85 Thiago Monteiro of Brazil, 6-2, 4-6, 6-4, in two hours and nine minutes behind 28 winners to reach his first tour-level semifinal.
Heart, fight, desire = @RafaelNadal 🙌⏰
3 hours 59 mins, that epic was Nadal’s second-longest clash EVER over three sets@NordeaOpen | #NordeaOpen pic.twitter.com/GXxxh1vqMy
— ATP Tour (@atptour) July 19, 2024
The former World No. 1 Nadal, who returned to Bastad in preparation for the upcoming Paris Olympics on clay later this month, struggled at times but came through in the clutch when he needed to most. In the opening set, Nadal battled back from 3-5 down and held two set points during Navone’s 5-6 service game before losing the set in tie-break.
Later, Nadal was three points from losing the quarterfinal tussle while serving to stay in the match at 4-5 (0-15) in the second set. He recovered and sent the quarterfinal to a decider.
Spot the trademark celebration 😅💪@RafaelNadal enters warrior mode to force a decider 7-5@NordeaOpen | #NordeaOpen pic.twitter.com/uZG9SWY5P9
— ATP Tour (@atptour) July 19, 2024
Then, the 23-year-old Navone gained an early lead in the final set at 2-0, up a break and serving, before Nadal stormed back to win five consecutive games, which enabled him to go ahead by a double-break lead at 5-2. While the 36th-ranked Navone managed to get both breaks back, Nadal pushed forward to break his opponent in the 11th game and held at love to close out the victory. He raised his arms in celebration.
20 years of executing this shot 🏹
It’s a break lead for @RafaelNadal in the third set!@NordeaOpen| #NordeaOpen pic.twitter.com/HPY9806fd3
— ATP Tour (@atptour) July 19, 2024
Now, Nadal is through to his first semifinal since 2022 at Wimbledon. Should he defeat Ajdukovic in Saturday’s semifinal, it would advance him to his first final since winning his 22nd major title at Roland-Garros two years ago.
“I lost for some moments my concentration, but I was able to hold physically until the end,” Nadal said in his on-court interview after winning his 10th match of the season. “That is so important for me. Let’s see how I am tomorrow, but today I am alive and in the semifinals, so that’s very important.”
“At the end no one was in control” 😂
An honest @RafaelNadal summary after a marathon match!#NordeaOpen pic.twitter.com/twlnfLfyg8
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) July 19, 2024
Nadal overcame 42 unforced errors by hitting 33 winners. He broke Navone’s serve 10 times in 21 tries and outpointed him 136-126.
“There were a lot of changing dynamics in every single set,” Nadal said. “For moments, he was in control. For moments, I was in control. But at the end, no one was in control. That’s true, and I had a good chance in the second with 3-0. Then, I was very close to losing the match in the second set.
“In the third [I was ahead] again with 5-2, but he’s a great fighter and he played a great match. I wish him all the very best for the rest of the season.”
In the other half of the draw, No. 121 Thiago Agustin Tirante of Argentina held off No. 54 Roberto Carballes Baena of Spain, 6-3, 2-6, 7-5, in two hours and 15 minutes. He will face No. 7 seed Nuno Borges of Portugal, ranked 50th, who defeated 233rd-ranked Timofey Skatov of Kazakhstan, 6-4, 6-3, in an hour and 30 minutes, to reach his first career tour-level semifinal — and to become just the sixth Portuguese player to reach an ATP semifinal.
Making his mark 🙌
Tirante fights back from a break down in the decider to defeat Carballes Baena 6-3 2-6 7-5 and makes his first ATP semi-final!#NordeaOpen pic.twitter.com/5fHS6yl52D
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) July 19, 2024
By the numbers
Rafael Nadal is now on an eight-match winning streak in Bastad, going back to his 2005 title run.
“Quotable …”
“Great feelings. I’ve been a while without playing on the Tour, since Roland-Garros. To have the chance to compete well against a great player like Cameron is a great feeling. I think I played in some moments good tennis, in some moments I need to play a little bit more aggressive, but that is part of the journey.”
— Rafael Nadal, during his on-court interview Thursday, after defeating fifth seed Cameron Norrie of Great Britain.
