Rafael Nadal's Finals Run Falls Short in Bastad

Nuno Borges defeated Rafael Nadal in the Swedish Open final.

Rafael Nadal lost in the Swedish Open finals. / Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports

One of the most exciting storylines in tennis over the past week has been the play of Rafael Nadal. The 22-time Grand Slam Champion battled his way through the Swedish Open (Nordea Open) in Bastad to reach his 131st finals match.

On the flip side, it was Nuno Borges' first finals appearance. In today's match, the experience did not pay off. Borges defeated Nadal in straight sets: 6-3, 6-2. It is Borges' first career title.

Portugese power 🇵🇹🥊

Nuno Borges ends Nadal’s run in Bastad with a 6-3, 6-2 victory for his first career ATP 🏆!⁰⁰#NordeaOpen pic.twitter.com/ea6ktW6CbA

— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) July 21, 2024

After the match, an emotional Borges said, "I don't know what to say. I think I was wishing for this moment for a while already. Tennis doesn't happen when you expect it. I know we all wanted Rafa to win. A part of me wishes that, too. But something bigger inside me pushed through. It wasn't about playing my best today. It was about coming up in the big moments. I couldn't have played better. I'm really emotional."

As always, Nadal handled the loss with class. He congratulated Borges and thanked the fans for an amazing week.

"Right now I'm living in the clouds" ❤️☁️

The ultimate respect from @nunoborges97 🤜🤛 @RafaelNadal @NordeaOpen | #NordeaOpen pic.twitter.com/zC3PTn3WM8

— ATP Tour (@atptour) July 21, 2024

Nadal concluded his remarks on a bittersweet note, "You made me feel special on court and gave me a lot of energy in the tough moments. I don't know if I'll be back here playing. Probably not. But I enjoyed being back and playing here one more time, without a doubt."

While today's results were not what Nadal and many tennis fans wanted, it was still one of the best tournaments the 38-year-old has played in some time.

More importantly, it kept him in shape for the clay courts of Roland Garros that will be used in the 2024 Summer Olympics. Tennis fans can follow Sports Illustrated's Serve on SI for all the most important news from the sport.

Further Reading: Carlos Alcaraz says Novak Djokovic is the greatest tennis player of all time.