BASTAD, Sweden — Rafael Nadal reached his first final since Roland Garros in 2022 by beating Duje Ajdukovic 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 at the Nordea Open clay-court tournament on Saturday.

After needing four hours to defeat No. 36 Mariano Navone in the quarterfinals on Friday, Nadal started slowly against Ajdukovic, losing in the second set before turning the tide.

“My opponent had one of the best backhands I’ve played against,” Nadal said. “It was very, very difficult, honestly, but I found a way to survive and get to the final after a long time without a final. So that’s great news and I’m very happy.”

Nadal will play against Nuno Borges or Thiago Agustin Tirante in the final.

Nadal is playing at the tournament in Sweden for the first time since winning the title in 2005 at the age of 19. He is preparing for the Olympic tournament on clay during Roland Garros in Paris.

The 38-year-old Nadal skipped Wimbledon because he didn’t want to change surfaces to grass and then back to clay and risk injury. He has been struggling with hip and abdominal injuries for 1 1/2 years.