The golden era of Rafael Nadal vs Novak Djokovic concludes at Six Kings Slam
The Six Kings Slam event, otherwise, wouldn’t have mattered much to the tennis fanatics. An exhibition event with no effect on the ATP rankings and points, fitted in amidst the busy ATP schedule, the inaugural season in Riyadh made little sense to the fraternity. However, the organizers were aware of what they were playing at. With no dearth of winnings to offer, the exhibition event called up all the current stars, from World No. 1 Jannik Sinner to his arch-rival Carlos Alcaraz. However, the highlight of the tournament rested in the participation of Rafael Nadal. Moreover, with Novak Djokovic joining the action in Saudi Arabia, the event promised a meet-up of the longtime rivals one last time on the court. The promise was eventually fulfilled on Sunday when Nadal and Djokovic fought for the third-place finish at the exhibition.
Six Kings Slam: Novak Djokovic wins his last match over Rafael Nadal
Rafael Nadal, on Sunday, played his last match against his career-long challenger, Novak Djokovic, in Riyadh. Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic came into the match after facing defeats in their respective semifinal matches at the exhibition event. Rafael Nadal lost to his compatriot Carlos Alcaraz 6-3, 6-3. Djokovic, on the other hand, failed to restrict Sinner despite claiming the second set of the semifinal match. The World No. 1 Italian eventually went on to claim the title win of the inaugural Six Kings Slam, pocketing the winning prize amounting to $6 million. The focus, however, lay greatly on the third-place match as Djokovic and Nadal set up the main attraction of the exhibition event.
Novak Djokovic, coming off his runner-up finish at the Shanghai Masters, beat Nadal 6-2, 7-6 to claim third place. The opening set was one-sided as the Serbian provided no numbered windows to Nadal. The Serbian started off by exploiting a breakpoint in his favor. The remaining set then proved a cakewalk for Djokovic to wrap up. However, the Spaniard staged a comeback in the second set. With the set going neck-and-neck, Djokovic had to claim a tiebreaker to pull the victory in his favor. The result, however, mattered less than their participation in the clash.
The rich Rafael Nadal vs Novak Djokovic rivalry concludes in Riyadh
The Six Kings Slam match did not impact the duo’s official head-to-head record, which currently favors Djokovic at 31-29, marking the longest rivalry in ATP history. Together with Roger Federer, forming the famous ‘Big 3’, Djokovic and Nadal brought in a golden age for tennis. For the fans, the ultimate rivalry is staged by the ‘King of Clay’ and the ‘King of Grass’. However, if noted by the stats, the Rafael Nadal vs Novak Djokovic face-off has been the richest in the sport.
The two champions have collectively claimed 46 Grand Slam singles titles. In the process, they scripted some of the best matches in the sport’s history. They created unforgettable moments on the grandest stages, such as the nail-biting 2013 French Open semifinal that Nadal narrowly won, the epic two-day Wimbledon 2018 semifinal that Djokovic triumphed in, and the dramatic 2012 Australian Open final, which remains the longest Grand Slam final before Novak Djokovic ultimately secured victory. Thus, as they concluded the golden chapter at the Six Kings Slam, both Nadal and Federer expressed their heartfelt emotions.
“The rivalry has been incredible; it has been very intense, so I hope we will have a chance to sit on the beach somewhere and have a drink reflecting on life and talking about something else,” Djokovic said during his on-court interview.
“It’s been an incredible honor and pleasure to share the court with you. It’s an emotional moment and an emotional day. We’ve been playing so many matches over so many years,” he added. “I will finish with one big thank you from not just me, but all of the tennis world, for what you have done. You have left an incredible legacy,” Djokovic rounded off.
Rafael Nadal, in turn, thanked the 24-time Grand Slam champion for developing the sport's most cherished on-field tussle.
“Thank you very much for all of the moments we shared on the court during all of our careers,” Nadal told the 37-year-old Serb. “We have had an amazing rivalry. You helped me to go over my limits, so thank you for that—because without that, I would probably not be the player that I am today,” Nadal added.
On October 10, Nadal announced his decision to retire from his professional career, with the Davis Cup Final being his last experience. The event scheduled in Malaga will be the concluding chapter of the 22-time Grand Slam champion. Nadal, who has been facing injury issues for the last couple of seasons, explained that it is still unknown if his body would allow him to play the singles clashes at the Davis Cup Finals.
“Emotionally, I’m sure I’ll be ready. Physically and in terms of tennis level, there is a month left to prepare. If I don’t feel ready for the singles, I’ll be the first one to say it, and let’s see if I can help in some way,” Rafael Nadal explained.
