Rafael Nadal is only one win away from his 89th title on the ATP Tour.
The Spanish tennis professional won the preparatory tournament in Melbourne in the semifinals against the Finn Emil Ruusuvuori 6: 4, 7: 5.
In the final, Nadal will now face the American qualifier Maxime Cressy.
For the 35-year-old Spaniard, it is the first tournament since August 2021. After that, he had to pause due to a complicated foot injury.
“It’s an important comeback after a five-month hiatus and it means a lot to me to be back in Australia,” said Nadal, who last won a tournament in Rome in May 2021.
The $ 521,000 tournament in Melbourne serves as preparation for the Australian Open. The first Grand Slam event of the year starts on January 17th.
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