Rafael Nadal wears down Mariano Navone in Bastad to reach first semi-final since 2022

BASTAD – Rafael Nadal was not going to allow anything to get in his way as he continued to ramp up his preparations for the Paris Olympics next week.

Playing on his favourite clay surface at the Swedish Open, the Spanish great bounced back from a set down to defeat Argentina’s Mariano Navone 6-7 (2-7), 7-5, 7-5 in the quarter-finals on July 19.

A day earlier, the 22-time Grand Slam champion had also fought back from trailing 4-1 in the second set to beat British fifth seed Cameron Norrie 6-4, 6-4.

It was all the more remarkable considering the 38-year-old veteran last played singles tennis at the French Open in May as he struggled with fitness issues.

His victories so far in Bastad would be a huge boost as he looks ahead to both the singles and the doubles – partnering reigning French Open and Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz – at the Games.

“For moments he was in control. For moments I was in control. At the end, no one was in control. That’s the truth,” said Nadal, who defeated Navone in a gruelling four hours in which both players were unwilling to throw in the towel.

The roller-coaster match in the ATP 250 event was well worth his efforts and never-say-die attitude, however, as he has now made his first semi-final since Wimbledon 2022.

It was also just his 10th tour-level victory of 2024 but it came nicely in the build-up to the Olympics, even though Nadal himself felt that he could have done better.

“I wasn’t focused during the whole time,” he admitted.

“I was up 5-2 (in the third set), so I lost for some moments the concentration. But I was able to hold up physically till the end. Let’s see how I am tomorrow. Today I’m alive and I’m in the semi-finals. So that’s super important. I can’t thank enough all the support here in Bastad.”

He will next face Croatian qualifier Duje Ajdukovic, who defeated Brazil’s Thiago Monteiro 6-2, 4-6, 6-4, in the last four.

Elsewhere in Hamburg, defending champion Alexander Zverev battled through to the quarter-finals on July 18 with a 4-6, 6-2, 7-5 victory over Frenchman Hugo Gaston.

Home hope Zverev is recovering from a knee injury he suffered at Wimbledon but still covered the court well as his opponent played a string of drop shots.

Gaston took the first set after a 30-ball rally, which Zverev was convinced should have been halted for a double bounce, but the German bounced back to break in the next game on his way to taking the second set.

The decider included five breaks of serve but Zverev took the last to lead 6-5 before holding serve to seal victory.

In the last eight on July 19, he will take on Chinese eighth seed Zhang Zhizhen, who beat Flavio Cobolli, 6-1, 7-6 (7-5). The result of their match was unavailable at press time. AFP