Riad. Novak Djokovic defeated Rafael Nadal 6-2 and 7-6 (7/5), this Saturday in the match for third place in the Six Kings Slaman exhibition tournament held in Riyadh, in which Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner will next play for the title.
After 60 matches on the ATP circuit (31 victories for Djokovic), the two legends said goodbye to the most repeated rivalry in the history of tennis with a heartfelt hug on the net.
Nadal was playing his penultimate tournament as a professional, before saying goodbye to tennis in the ‘Final 8’ of the Davis Cup, in Malaga from November 19 to 24.
The 38-year-old Spaniard with 22 Grand Slam titles – the record is held by Djokovic, 37, with 24 – played his second match in Riyadh after losing clearly in the semifinals against his compatriot and heir Alcaraz (double 6-3).
Against his best enemy, Djokovic, and his worst surface (indoor), he failed in the first set, taking precautions to take care of his physique before playing for his last title in Davis. In the final stretch he woke up, leaving some trademark blows, but it was too late and it wasn’t worth forcing.
After the match, Nadal received a golden racket from the Saudi authorities, after a video with the best moments of his career.
“I don’t know where to start. Maybe because of the first game we played together, in 2005… Now we are here, almost 20 years later, more than 60 games later. You are an incredible athlete, an incredible person. I hope that one day we can sit on the beach and have a drink talking about life,” Djokovic said.
Nadal then spoke: “Thank you Novak for all the moments we have shared. You helped me reach my limits for 15 years, without you perhaps I would not be the player I was.”
“I will miss everything, having the opportunity to play in the best places in the world. I appreciate the support I have received everywhere,” he added.
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