Rafa Nadal is living the last stages of his sports career in the new Six Kings Slamwhich brings together the six kings of tennis in Saudi Arabia. He will still have the Davis, but this exhibition has allowed us to enjoy the Manacorí against Carlos Alcaraz and this Saturday also against Novak Djokovic. The Serbian, who maintains a great friendship with the legend, He proposed one last dance… and not exactly on the dance floor..
This Friday, both legends enjoyed a day of rest after losing the semifinals against Alcaraz and Sinner and before facing each other for the last time on the court. Saudi Arabia has welcomed them as heroes and wanted to involve them in its culture. Therefore, gathered in a square at the tournament festival, the local population invited the great tennis players to enjoy a traditional dance.
Novak Djokovic was encouraged at first and was enjoying being in the center of the scene, but he soon realized that someone was missing. Rafa Nadal, with his son in his arms, held on to the rear, always in the main shot on the court and away from the spotlight outside of it.
But Nole did not want to miss the opportunity to enjoy a fun moment with his partner and friend in what will be the last tennis event with both of them active. Although Nadal shook his head and insistently resisted dancing with the rest, Djokovic managed to convince him with laughter. Finally, the Spaniard took the stage where the aforementioned Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner were also present.
A scene that shows the greatness of the tennis kings of the last two decades. Rafa Nadal He already said goodbye to Roger Federer in an iconic and illustrious image in which they both cried holding hands. Friends before rivals. And look, they were rivals. History repeats itself, now with Novak Djokovic as the protagonist.
The Serbian already said goodbye to Nadal with a heartfelt letter and sharing images of them throughout their sporting career.. Some of them were on the track, but there were also many outside, like two great friends. For example, in a jacuzzi, laughing and enjoying together all the privileges that tennis has given them.
They still have the last real dance left. The dance that they will not forget, although Nadal’s blush will probably also make him remember this night for a long time. This Saturday, starting at 6:30 p.m. Spanish time, the two legendary tennis players will meet for the last time on the court. The truth is that it will be an exhibition tournament, with no points involved. But the financial loot and, above all, the great ambition and enthusiasm that the two have always shown will lead us to enjoy a spectacle like no other.
A generational duel that will then be accompanied by the grand final between Sinner and Alcaraz with the largest prize in tennis history as a reward. Ironically, two of the five greatest of all time, even being cautious, will act as opening acts for the two monarchs of the new generation, another one that aims high.
Whatever happens, Novak Djokovic will conclude his confrontations with Nadal with a favorable balance: so far, the Serbian has won 31 times compared to the Manacori’s 29. His last duel was recent and somewhat unbalanced: the Spaniard lost emphatically in the second round of the Paris Olympic Games and contributed to a certain extent to his friend completing the last dream he had left in his sporting career. Of course, Olympic gold. 46 Grand Slam titles will meet on the Saudi Arabia court for the last timealthough before they enjoyed a dance for posterity.
