Rafael Nadal performed the penultimate event of his profession on the Six Kings Slam in Riyadh. The 22-time Main champion suffered losses to Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic, which was much less vital. Nadal leaves Saudi Arabia with nice recollections and a particular current, receiving a golden racquet from the organizers as a retirement reward.
Novak and Rafa embraced one other dance on the court docket, 18 years after kicking off their rivalry at Roland Garros 2006! The Serb scored a 6-2, 7-6 victory to safe third place on the Six Kings Slam exhibition. It was a strong duel, particularly within the second set when the Spaniard recovered his recreation and went extra for his photographs.
Nonetheless, he fell within the tie break to propel the Serb excessive. Novak clinched 4 breaks and saved 4 of six break factors, lacking a match level on serve at 5-4 earlier than sealing the deal within the breaker. World no. 4 had the higher hand within the opening set, serving properly and stealing the rival’s serve two instances for a dependable begin and a lift.
Rafael Nadal leaves Riyadh with a golden racquet.
Djokovic cast an early benefit with a return winner within the first recreation of the encounter. The higher-ranked participant held after deuces within the second recreation and produced a maintain at love two video games later for 3-1.
Nadal confronted a break level within the fifth recreation, saving it with a service winner and holding to stay inside one break deficit. Novak made one other push on the return within the seventh recreation, producing three break factors and changing the second with a backhand down the road winner that despatched him 5-2 in entrance.
The Serb held within the eighth recreation, sealing the opener in model after 31 minutes. The Spaniard missed a forehand initially of the second set, getting damaged for the third time and falling a set and a break behind.
Nonetheless, he pulled it again within the subsequent one and fought stronger than within the opener.
Rafa produced a fantastic maintain within the fifth recreation and created three break probabilities within the subsequent one. Djokovic denied them and missed his alternatives within the subsequent one, retaining his opponent on the constructive aspect. Novak grabbed a break at love within the ninth recreation, transferring 5-4 up and serving for the win.
The 22-time Main winner made the final push on the return in recreation ten, cracking a forehand winner on a match level and delivering a break to delay the battle. They served properly within the remaining two video games and launched a tie break.
Nadal moved 3-2 up with a backhand down the road winner, and Djokovic erased the deficit with an ace within the subsequent one. The Serb landed one other good serve for 4-3 and a forehand winner for a 5-4 lead, retaining the stress on the opposite aspect.
Novak missed a forehand within the tenth level earlier than making a match level with an ace. He seized it with a compelled error, sealing the deal and beating his nice rival earlier than they exchanged stylish phrases.
