Rafael Nadal (153rd place, Spain) lost his last match to Novak Djokovic (4th place, Serbia).
Nadal lost 0-2 (2-6 5-7) to Djokovic in the third-place match on the last day of the <a href="https://www.archysport.com/2024/02/a-new-exhibition-tournament-in-saudi-arabia-with-novak-djokovic-and-rafael-nadal/" title="A new exhibition tournament in Saudi Arabia with Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal”>Six Kings Slam held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on the 19th (local time).
Nadal, who is scheduled to retire after the Davis Cup in November, has maintained a rivalry with Djokovic, who is one year younger, throughout his career. The record for most major singles wins is held by Djokovic with 24, followed by Nadal with 22. The two also met in the second round of this year’s Paris Olympics, where Djokovic won 2-0 (6-1 6-4).
The record between Djokovic and Nadal is 31 wins and 29 losses, with Djokovic ahead. Because this Six Kings Slam is not a regular tournament, it is not included in the opponent’s record.
Even if Nadal participates in the Davis Cup in November, Serbia has already been eliminated, so the match between Nadal and Djokovic on this day was the last match between the two as active players.
“I am grateful to have been able to compete with Djokovic throughout my career,” Nadal said in a post-match interview. “It is this great rivalry that has allowed me to push my limits for over 15 years.”
Djokovic also said, “Nadal is a tremendous being, both as a player and as a person,” and added, “Not only I, but the entire tennis world will be grateful to Nadal.”
Djokovic said, “I hope I get a chance to sit side by side with Nadal sometime and talk about his life while looking back on him,” adding, “Please don’t leave tennis.”
Meanwhile, in the final of this tournament, Jannik Sinner (1st place, Italy) defeated Carlos Alcaras (2nd place, Spain) 2-1 (6-7 6-3 6-3).
The Six Kings Slam is an event held by Saudi Arabia, inviting six players, including Sinner and Alcaras, as well as Djokovic, Nadal, Daniil Medvedev (5th place, Russia), and Holger Rune (14th place, Denmark), and the prize money is $6 million. (approximately 8.21 billion won), and at least 1.5 million dollars was paid to each participating athlete.
The prize money for winning the US Open singles, a major tournament this year, was $3.6 million.
Reporter Ahn Hee-soo [email protected]
