NEW DELHI:
Rafael Nadal
advanced to his first final since winning the 2022 French Open, overcoming Croatian qualifier
Duje Ajdukovic
in a three-set match in Bastad on Saturday.
After a grueling four-hour quarter-final the previous day, the 22-time Grand Slam champion faced another tough challenge from Ajdukovic, the world number 130, ultimately prevailing 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.
Nadal, who won the Bastad tournament as a teenager in 2005, will compete for his 93rd singles title on Sunday.
His opponent will be either Portuguese seventh seed Nuno Borges or Argentina's Thiago Agustin Tirante. The Spaniard's last tournament win was at Roland Garros two years ago.
Nadal is using the Bastad event to prepare for the Paris Olympics, where the
tennis
competitions will also take place on the clay courts of Roland Garros.
The 38-year-old returned to action this week for the first time since being eliminated in the first round of the French Open in late May.
He is scheduled to play in the doubles later on Saturday alongside Casper Ruud.
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