Rafael Nadal's winning streak on clay was brought to an end on Sunday as he was defeated by Nuno Borges in the final of the Nordea Open.
The seventh-seeded Portuguese player dominated the match, winning 6-3, 6-2 to claim his first ATP Tour title. Borges broke Nadal's serve five times in a commanding performance. This was Nadal's first final appearance since the 2022 French Open.
"It's crazy; in tennis, things don't always happen when you expect them to," Borges said after the match. "I know we all wanted Rafa to win, a part of me wished that too, but something even bigger inside of me really pushed through today."
Nadal, who was playing in Bastad for the first time since his 2005 victory at the age of 19, had been using the tournament as preparation for the upcoming Olympic tournament on clay at Roland Garros in Paris.
The 38-year-old Spaniard had skipped Wimbledon this year, choosing not to switch from clay to grass and then back again due to concerns about injury. He has been battling hip and abdominal problems for the past 18 months.
Despite his loss, Nadal remains a formidable force on clay, having won 14 French Open titles and numerous other clay-court tournaments throughout his career. However, this defeat serves as a reminder that even the greatest players can be vulnerable on any given day.