Match Report_ATP Bastad: Nadal Beats ‘Borg’s Son’, Advances to Second Round to Face Norrie

On July 16th, the ATP250 Bastad tournament continued with first-round singles matches. The 38-year-old Spanish icon Rafael Nadal defeated 21-year-old Leo Borg, son of tennis legend Bjorn Borg, by a score of 6-3/6-4, securing his first singles victory on the tour since losing in the first round of the French Open to Zverev.

Rafael Nadal Archive Image

“It was a huge honor for me to play against the son of one of the greatest legends in this sport,” Nadal said after the match. “I think he played very well and has a bright future ahead of him. I wish him all the best in the future. Playing in front of a full crowd is significant for me; it gives me the energy to continue training hard every day. Even during more challenging times, I am able to keep moving forward with the help of my team, and of course, the fans give me a lot of energy.”

This is Nadal’s first return to Bastad since winning the title in 2005, and it is also his sixth tournament of the season. In the second round, his opponent will be British player Cameron Norrie, who beat Kovalik 7-6(4)/6-4. In their five previous meetings, Nadal leads 4-1, but in their most recent encounter, Norrie emerged victorious at the United Cup in 2023.

Nadal is competing in both singles and doubles this week, partnering with Norwegian star Casper Ruud. They are scheduled to appear in the third match tonight on center court, facing Alibazhe/Savulin, aiming for a spot in the men’s doubles semifinals.

(Written and edited by Wang Fei)