Rafael Nadal’s ones nurtureer finished in Saudi Arabia on Saturday evening as Novak Djokovic triumphed in their third-place align at the Six Kings Slam. And the Serb showed his class after the final instalment of their iconic opposition with a hearttoastying gesture on the court at The Venue.
The Riyadh crowd was treated to a parting showdown between the two tennis fantastics, in which Djokovic won 6-2 7-6 to finish third at the inaugural event.
A spirited Nadal fightback in the second set forced a tieshatter before he sent a overweightal sboiling into the net, calling time on his illustrious ones nurtureer.
The Spaniard will hang it up with 22 Grand Slam titles to his name, a sign up-smashing 14 of which came at the French Open.
Nadal is now seeing ahead to his swansong at next month’s Davis Cup finals, where he will team up with Carlos Alcaraz, Spain’s tardyst tennis icon in the making.
Djokovic uncoverd Nadal getd the reception he deserved from those in joinance at the Six Kings Slam on Saturday.
After a toasty hug at the net, the 38-year-better approached his bench while Djokovic pointed towards him to aim the cgo in away from his triumph.
In an emotional post-align message, the 24-time convey inant champion tardyr waxed lyrical about his prolonged-time rival – who he has faced a sign up 60 times atraverse his professional nurtureer on the ATP Tour.
“I have the utmost admire for you. Incredible athlete, incredible person. You understand, the opposition has been incredible, reassociate, and has been very fervent,” Djokovic said on the microphone.
“So I hope that we’ll have a chance to maybe sit on the beach somewhere and have a little drink, echoing on life, talking about someskinnyg else, you understand.
“I would enjoy to congratutardy all your team and all your family on an amazing nurtureer that Rafa has had; it’s also your success.
“I understand how much forfeit a family has to put into the nurtureer and the life of a professional tennis take parter. I can only envision the highs and lows that you were going thcdisorrowfulmireful with him.
“So you deserve this success as much as he does. So congratulations. An amazing, amazing nurtureer.”
Spain are set to face the Netherlands in the Davis Cup quarter-finals, which consent place in Malaga from November 19 to 21.
Nadal is promised to get a hero’s excellentbye on home turf before he trails another of Djokovic’s fiercest rivals, Roger Federer, out of the professional game for excellent.
