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Rafael Nadal vs Mariano Navone: ATP Bastad – Quarterfinal
The 22-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal will take on Mariano Navone in the quarterfinal of the ATP Bastad.
Rafael Nadal Profile
Former world No. 1 Rafael Nadal is currently 261st in the ATP rankings. The Spaniard is 9-6 for the season and 7-4 on clay.
Nadal is coming off a 6-4, 6-4 win over Cameron Norrie in the round of 16 after beating Leo Borg 6-3, 6-4 in the opening match of the tournament. That was Nadal’s first match after the loss to Alexander Zverev in the first round of the French Open.
Nadal’s best result of the season was reaching the round of 16 in Madrid, where he lost to Jiri Lehecka.
This is his first appearance in Bastad after 2005, when he won the title, beating Tomas Berdych in the final.
Mariano Navone Profile
Mariano Navone is 36th in the rankings, and his career high was No. 29 in the world. The Argentinian is 26-15 for the season and 26-11 on clay.
Navone is coming off a 6-4, 6-2 win over Sumit Nagal in the opening round of the tournament. That was his first win after losing the previous four matches.
Navone’s best result of the season was the title at the Cagliari Challenger, defeating Lorenzo Musetti in the final. He lost in the other three finals in Bucharest, Rio de Janeiro, and Buenos Aires 3.
This is his first appearance in Bastad.
Head-to-Head
This will be the first match between Rafael Nadal and Mariano Navone.
Prediction and Conclusion
Rafael Nadal has had a promising week in Bastad, and this tournament may turn from a preparation for the Olympics to his first title since 2022. Nadal played pretty well against Norrie, dominating the match from the very first point. Navone will have a chance for a sensation, and he seems ready if Nadal gives him a chance. The Argentinian will definitely give everything he has in this match, and it will be a long battle that will go over 22.5 games in total.
