"I must continue to progress": Rafael Nadal admits playing 'much better' after securing Bastad Open final berth

Spain’s legendary tennis star Rafael Nadal has admitted that he is playing ‘much better’ than what he was two months ago. The 37-year-old is often regarded as the greatest player in the history of men’s tennis, having won as many as 22 Grand Slam titles.

Nadal is currently participating in the Bastad Open, where he booked his place in the final after beating Duje Ajdukovic in the semifinal with a score of 4-6, 6-3, 6-4. While talking to the media after the match, the former world number one stated that he feels that he is playing ‘much better’ than he was two months back. He also admitted that he must ‘evolve’ to become better.

"There are many things in which I must continue to evolve,” he said. “The main thing is reading the game, choosing the right shot at important moments. Little by little, I am recovering the speed of my legs that allows me to hit my forehand with power. I am playing much better than two months ago, but I must continue to progress. I have to accept all the challenges that come and be willing to suffer on the court to continue giving myself opportunities to succeed.”

Nadal has endured some callous times because of fitness struggles. He suffered a significant injury in 2023, which ruled him out of action for nearly 12 months. During that time, the former world number one announced that he would retire from professional tennis at the end of the 2024 season. Nadal returned to the court earlier this year and again suffered an injury during the Brisbane International, which kept him out of action for nearly two months.

The Spaniard finally returned to the court just before the Barcelona Open but has not lived up to expectations since then. Before taking part in the Bastad Open, Nadal’s last appearance was in the French Open, where he was knocked out of the competition after losing in the first round in straight sets to Germany’s Alexander Zverev with a score of 6-3, 7-6, 6-3.