Rafael Nadal continued his impressive form at the Nordea Open in Båstad, securing a 6-4, 6-4 victory over Cameron Norrie to reach his second ATP quarterfinal of the season. This win marks another step in Nadal’s preparation for the upcoming Summer Olympic Games in Paris.
Nadal, a 22-time Grand Slam champion, showcased his resilience and skill on the court, winning the final five games and 16 of the last 19 points to defeat the No. 5 seed and former world No. 8, Norrie, in one hour and 42 minutes on Center Court.
“I haven’t been competing very often so matches and victories like today help keep me in rhythm,” Nadal said post-match. “Holding the pressure on opponents is something I need to improve because I haven’t played enough!”
After starting the season with a quarterfinal run in Brisbane, Nadal is now focusing on his third and likely final appearance at the Summer Olympic Games. He opted to skip the Wimbledon Championships to concentrate on clay, entering Båstad for his first tournament since Roland Garros. Nadal has a history of success at Båstad, having won the tournament in 2005.
Nadal’s campaign in Båstad also includes playing doubles with former No. 2 Casper Ruud, adding excitement for the Swedish crowd. This week, Nadal won a significant singles match against Leo Borg, son of Bjorn Borg, and saved a match point in a doubles victory over Theo Arribage and Roman Safiullin after upsetting the No. 2 seeds Guido Andreozzi and Miguel Ángel Reyes-Varela.
Facing Norrie, who had previously defeated Nadal at the 2023 United Cup, proved challenging. Despite leading the Brit 4-1 in their head-to-head, Norrie showcased his abilities, winning an ATP 500 title at the 2023 Rio Open. Nadal, however, managed to secure the only break of the opening set and staved off a pair of break points to lead.
“In some ways at the beginning of the match I felt he was a little better than me,” Nadal admitted. “He was winning his serves easily and my serves, I was suffering a little more. But I was a player who made the break.”
Norrie turned the tables in the second set, building a 4-1 lead. Nadal, undeterred, battled back, breaking Norrie to even the score at 4-4. Nadal’s powerful backhand putaway and a decisive ace sealed his victory, setting up a quarterfinal clash with No. 4 seed Mariano Navone.
“He’s a player who is playing so well this year, winning a lot of matches, especially on clay,” Nadal commented on Navone. “In the quarterfinals of such a historic event like Båstad, you can’t expect easy opponents. I’m just trying to improve a little bit every day. I know it’ll be a tough one but I hope to play good tennis and give all of myself.”
Nadal’s focus and determination remain unwavering as he aims to continue his success at the Nordea Open and build momentum for the Paris Olympics.
