Rafael Nadal will add one more chapter to his storied rivalry with Novak Djokovic in the third-place match of the Six Kings Slam exhibition event in Saudi Arabia.
The meeting between the pair is set to bookend their rivalry after the Spaniard announced his retirement from Tennis.
Reflecting on his upcoming clash with Djokovic, Nadal expressed a sense of nostalgia. “To have Novak in front of me, it’s like a nostalgic thing,” Nadal said. “We’ve played each other a lot, so it’ll be fun to play each other again in this match.”
Nadal’s path to the consolation match came after a 6-3, 6-3 defeat to fellow countryman Carlos Alcaraz in the semi-finals. Djokovic, meanwhile, fell short in a dramatic clash against world number one Jannik Sinner, losing 6-2, 6-7(0), 6-4.
Sinner will now face Alcaraz in the final in Riyadh, with the winner taking home a $6 million prize.
Nadal, a 22-time Grand Slam champion, has faced Djokovic a record 60 times, with the Serb holding a slight 31-29 edge overall. The duo share a staggering 46 Grand Slam titles between them.
Their most recent encounter came at the Paris Olympics, where Djokovic triumphed 6-1, 6-4 in the second round.
The 38-year-old Nadal, who has dealt with numerous injuries over the past years, has hinted at a possible return to team competition before his final bow. He could team up again with Alcaraz at the Davis Cup Final 8 in Malaga from November 19-24.
“Emotionally, I’m sure I’ll be ready,” Nadal said. “Physically and in terms of tennis level, there is a month left to prepare. If I don’t feel ready for singles, I’ll be the first to say it, and we’ll see if I can help in some way.”
As Nadal’s legendary career nears its conclusion, this final chapter against Djokovic at the Six Kings Slam promises to be a fitting tribute to one of the sport’s greatest rivalries.
