“I play to win“- said Rafael Nadal after winning an intense quarterfinal battle, as he booked his spot for the semifinals in the Bastad Open. However, that battle is also scaled and the Spaniard is in the finals now! It has been a couple of years since Rafael Nadal made his journey to the finals of an ATP tournament. Since his win at the Roland Garros back in 2022, Nadal has mostly faced early-round exits. Now with his entry into the Bastad finals, he has made another record, standing in line with his Big 3 fellow, Roger Federer and tennis star, Stan Wawrinka.

It’s not easy to play against a younger energetic opponent, who is looking to make his mark on the tennis circuit. However, with the older generation fading into the sunset, Nadal is determined to have his last dance with a terrific comeback and hopefully a title win in his pocket. And he is on the right track. He has battled some quality players to make it to the final at Bastad. A ray of sunshine before the quadrennial event in Paris, just a week later.

Nadal has now become the 5th oldest player to make it to the final of an ATP event in singles. In a recent update, Christopher Clarey tweeted Nadal’s achievement, with the caption: “The 5th oldest player to reach a tour singles final since the start of ATP Tour in 1990.” In doing so, the Spaniard joined his arch-nemesis, Federer, and another tennis great, Wawrinka. While Federer reached the 2019 finals at Basel, at 38 years and 80 days, Wawrinka captured the moment at Umag 2023 at 38 years and 120 days.

The silver lining to Nadal’s achievement was the fact that Nadal did it in front of his toddler son and his wife. This final must be more special for him than any other he played in the past. This might be the last time tennis fans could see the legend play on the tour, as the rumors of his retirement pick up speed.

There were doubts about Nadal playing in the Semifinals after his marathon quarterfinal against Navone. However, he quashed all the doubts in his post-match interview, as his strong statement reverberated a threat to his opponents.

Rafael Nadal is “here to win” as Paris Olympics approaches 

Many tennis fans thought that only Carlos Alcaraz could help Nadal get a dream farewell, as they paired up for the Olympics in doubles. However, at Bastad, the veteran has raised the hopes of tennis fans in more ways than one. Firstly, clay is his preferred surface. Secondly, Nadal’s journey to the finals has been anything but a cakewalk. Hence, his perseverance and never-give-up attitude certainly persists. In his statement at the press conference when he was asked whether Bastad was a practice event for him, the Spaniard made it clear that he was “playing to win”.

“I never said that it’s a preparation for anything. I never take a tournament like a preparation for another. Just when I’m coming back from a long period of injury, maybe, but I take this tournament like an important event,” the 38-year-old said.

Tennis fans were eagerly yet patiently waiting for Nadal’s last rise before he put his racquet aside. And their wish might come true at what would be his last Olympics. Paris, here comes Nadal for history!