After attracting all the big stars to this exhibition with a shower of millions, Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) dresses up today to present to the world the most impressive generational double duel in tennis in the world. Six Kings Slam.
The kings Rafa Nadal y Novak Djokovic They will face each other for the last time to close a legendary rivalry (6:30 p.m./Movistar+, DAZN and live on the MD website) and, later, the princes Carlos Alcaraz y Jannik Sinnerthe main heirs to the throne, will compete in the final, surely playing for the highest prize ever paid in their sport for a victory, 5.5 million euros. The six invited to the tournament –Daniil Medvedev y Holger Rune fell in the quarterfinals – they had a fixed amount of 1.38 million euros.
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Nadal, 38, announced a few days ago his retirement after the Final 8 of the Malaga Davis Cup (November 19-24), news that gave special emphasis to the Saudi exhibition for the opportunity to play for the last time both against his Spanish heir – Alcaraz won the semi-finals by a double 6-3 – and against Djokovic, the last survivor of ‘Big Three’ that has marked a perhaps unrepeatable era in tennis: the Serbian will end the record of Grand Slams (24 at the moment) after a memorable and long epic battle with Nadal (22) and Roger Federer (20).
Novak Djokovic, 37, is currently ranked No. 4 in the world
The Serbian and the Spaniard will fight for third place in the Six Kings Slam in a match played 60 times officially, with a slight advantage in favor of ‘No’ (31-29). Today they will cross rackets for the last time because Serbia did not qualify for the Davis Cup finals and, therefore, Djokovic will not be able to rival Nadal in his last professional dance before his retirement.
“We have faced each other many times and it will be nice to play against each other for the last time,” said Nadal, who is taking advantage of this tournament to prepare himself for the assault of the ‘Salad bowl’which would be the sixth in his record if Spain wins in Malaga. “From a mental point of view I am sure that I am prepared. Physically and from a tennis point of view, there is one month left to prepare,” commented Rafa, who will be at the captain’s disposal. David Ferrerfor whatever you consider appropriate.
Carlos Alcaraz has dynamite in his blows
Nadal reappeared on Thursday against Alcaraz after two months without competing, since the Paris Gameswhere he fell in the 2nd round (6-1, 6-4) precisely against Djokovic, who ultimately took the Olympic gold to pass the only pending subject he had on his record.
After Nadal-Djokovic it will be the turn of the Alcaraz-Sinnerthe two greatest exponents of the present and future of world tennis. The two have shared the four Grand Slam titles this year and their rivalry is also exciting: the Murcian dominates the Italian in their previous matches (6-4) after having won their last three direct matches.
Jannik Sinner, the current world number 1 at 23 years old
