For the first time since his son’s birth, Rafael Nadal secured his place in a final while spending time with his son Rafa Jr. and his wife Maria Francisca Perello. In an intense three-set match, the Spaniard overcame Duje Ajdukovic to secure a spot in the championship round.
Nadal won 6-3, 6-4 in his opening match of the week against Leo, the son of Bjorn Borg. In the second round, he easily defeated Cameron Norrie, winning 6-4 and 6-4. Mariano Navone proved to be a formidable opponent for him in the quarterfinals, giving him a serious run for his money. In the end, the former World No. 1 defeated the Argentine 6-7(2), 7-5, 7-5.The Spaniard had to work hard to overcome Ajdukovic in the semifinal, making it another difficult match. The 22-time Grand Slam champion dropped the opening set 4-6 then won the second set 6-3 to tie the match. In the second set, he gave up a service break, but he bounced back to tie the match.
In the third set, the Spaniard led 3-0, but Ajdukovic won the next three games to tie the match. After taking a 4-3 lead and serving out the remainder of the match, the King of Clay won 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.Rafa Jr. and Maria Francisca Perello, Rafael Nadal’s spouse, were cheering him on from the stands as he locked up his place in the championship match for the first time since the 2022 French Open. He will be playing in his first final since the birth of his son in October 2022.
