Joshua Alvarez
San Sebastian
Sunday, October 20, 2024, 12:35
The world of tennis experienced a “day of emotions” this Saturday as Novak Djokovic described it in his farewell to Rafa Nadal. The Balearic tennis player faced the Serbian in an exhibition match at the Six Kings Slam tournament in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. In this duel another and perhaps the last chapter of their legendary rivalry was written. Djokovic won the victory, but it was his farewell words addressed to Nadal at the end of the match that won over the public: “I have the utmost respect for you, the rivalry has been incredible and very intense,” said the Serbian, who He closed his speech by asking Nadal not to abandon the sport: “Stay with us a little longer.”
Hampered by injuries, Rafa Nadal announced his definitive retirement from professional sports on October 10 through a video on his social networks. The Spanish tennis legend, after making “a difficult decision”, will end his career in 2024 after playing the Davis Cup in Malaga, which will be held next November. Before his last tournament, the winner of 22 Grand Slam titles faced Novak Djokovic on Saturday, his great rival and another of the members of the ‘Big Three’ of tennis that he makes up along with Roger Federer. After playing an exhibition match in Saudi Arabia, Djokovic wanted to say a few words to Nadal as a farewell.
“I remember the first game we played one against one, it was in 2005,” the Serbian began nostalgically. Djokovic highlighted the extensive career of both as tennis players: “Who would have thought that we would be here almost 20 years later and with more than 60 duels between us?” The champion of 24 Grand Slam trophies, as he did ten days ago when Nadal announced that he was hanging up his racket, wanted to thank the Spaniard for his “incredible legacy”, also on behalf of the “world of tennis.”
The respect between the two has been mutual throughout their career and Djokovic wanted to make it clear: “You are an incredible athlete and person.” Nor has he forgotten the support of Nadal’s family by ensuring that he is “aware of the sacrifice that your life as a professional tennis player has meant for your family”, since “I can imagine the ups and downs that you have gone through, you deserve success as much as he”.
When the time approached to give way to the Spanish tennis player, the Serbian player joked about his life after sport: “I hope we have the opportunity to sit on the beach and drink something reflecting on life.” Djokovic, who found himself with the strength to “talk all night”, put an end to the speech by praising Nadal: “It has been an honor and a pleasure to share the court with you”, to which he added a personal request: “Don’t let tennis, man, stay with us a little longer.
Rafa Nadal gave his racket to Neymar
Rafa Nadal had a nice gesture with Neymar, the Brazilian soccer star, when he decided to give him his playing racket. The Saudi Al-Hilal player, who is in the final phase of his recovery, came to the Six Kings Slam tournament to enjoy the confrontation between Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz. At the end of the match, which ended with the victory of the young Murcian promise, Nadal gave her his racket as a gift, a fact that evidenced the good relationship between both athletes.
