Nuno Borges Upsets Rafael Nadal to Clinch First ATP Tour Victory

Rafael Nadal's winning streak at the Nordea Open ended with a loss to Nuno Borges in the final. The seventh-seeded Borges broke Nadal's serve five times for his first ATP tour win. Nadal, who last played a final at the 2022 French Open, is preparing for the Olympic tournament in Paris.

Rafael Nadal's impressive run at the clay-court Nordea Open was halted on Sunday when he was defeated by Portugal's Nuno Borges with a score of 6-3, 6-2 in the final.

The seventh-seeded Borges managed to break Nadal's serve five times, securing his first ATP tour victory. This showdown was Nadal's first final appearance since the 2022 French Open. "It's crazy, in tennis it doesn't happen when you expect it sometimes,'' Borges commented. "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 returned to the Nordea Open in Sweden for the first time since he captured the title as a teenager in 2005, gearing up for the Olympic tournament on clay at Roland Garros in Paris. The 38-year-old Spaniard opted out of Wimbledon to avoid transitioning between surfaces and risking injury, as he continues to manage ongoing hip and abdominal issues.

(With inputs from agencies.)