had a difficult day today and played a few really lengthy matches. It was challenging, but I did my best.”
During the award ceremony following his defeat by Nuno Borges in the Bastad final, Rafael Nadal gave this summary of his week. The Spanish player stated during the on-court interview:
“My gratitude for you will never end. I feel privileged to have performed in front of all of you; you have really motivated me. Thank you; I’m not sure if I will be able to return here the following year. I would like to express my gratitude for the flawless organization. When I returned 19 years later, the wonderful and welcoming atmosphere was still there. I am grateful to my family and team. All I can say is, well done. You have been by my side every day for the past two years, even though it hasn’t been easy.”
For the first time since winning Roland Garros 2022, Rafa made it back to the final. For the Spaniard, who has been dealing with persistent and draining health issues for the past year and a half, this is a significant accomplishment.
Will the fearless Rafael Nadal rendition we witnessed in Bastad suffice for the Olympics in Paris? Obviously not, but everything went according to the Spaniard’s expectations going into the Olympic tournament. Rafa performed poorly in the Bastad final, but he persevered admirably in trying times. He will be the opponent that nobody wants to play against on the Philippe Chatrier if he recovers even more in time for Paris. Although Nadal’s talent, charisma, and willpower could carry him farther than his physical form would, I firmly believe that he has done everything within his power to qualify for the Olympics in Paris among the greatest.
I wasn’t very good. He was a better player than I was. I apologize for my poor performance. Yes, I should have played much, much better, but the truth is that I probably ran out of energy. Playing any worse would be challenging. Congratulations are also due to Nuno. He was successful because he made the most of his opportunities.
During the press conference, Rafael Nadal was extremely critical of himself and acknowledged that he was not happy with the level he had shown in the ATP 250 tournament final loss to Borges in Bastad. The Spanish champion revealed that his game performs far better in training and that he must comprehend why he isn’t able to replicate that performance in games.
“I felt really good about my training level when I came here, but I was unable to translate that feeling into games. My tennis game isn’t good enough for me. I’ll obviously need to play a lot better. I need to know why I’m not able to compete at the same level that I did during training. Olympic Games? I want to perform well on the field. The Olympics are the biggest sporting event of the year, and it’s special to represent Spain and have a sense of belonging to a fantastic team. My goal is to have fun during the competition, and I’m driven to compete at my highest level.
The level I demonstrated today is far below what I would like to demonstrate. I’m not used to playing four days in a row, both physically and mentally, but it’s been a long week with long matches. My body isn’t hurt. That’s a contributing factor in my performance today. Then there are additional, tennis-related, technical explanations. You must evaluate the game. He continued, “I have a lot of experience, so I have to accept everything that comes my way and keep trying to get better.
As one of only five tennis players to defeat Rafael Nadal in a clay-court final, Borges, the winner of Bastad, expressed his overwhelming joy at the amazing triumph.
Rafa, I am aware that this was not your best match. But everyone is happy to see you back on the court. For all that you have accomplished, you are a true inspiration. Thank you to my team, some of whom are not present. Your efforts also made it possible for me to get this outcome. I want to savor this moment right now. Trying to talk while holding this trophy is tough. I want to keep having dreams. Rafa’s speech made me even more anxious than I was before. I didn’t think I could compete in a final against Rafael Nadal in a venue this packed. I concur with Rafa; the tournament has a wonderful past and is expertly run by the organizers,” he said.