Novak Djokovic earned the third place at the Six Kings Slam in Riyadh. The 24-time Major winner faced his greatest rival Rafael Nadal and scored a 6-2, 7-6 victory, leaving Saudi Arabia with a win. Rafa and Novak faced for the last time before the Spaniard ends his career at the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga, closing an incredible chapter of tennis history.
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They did not play at their best, although we saw exciting winners from both players. World no. 4 denied four of six break points and delivered two breaks in each set. He controlled the scoreboard before Nadal made a push in the second set and made it more interesting.
Novak struggled to find the first serve in the opening set, but no one could notice that. The Serb produced four comfortable service games and delivered a double break for 6-2 in 31 minutes. Rafa missed a routine forehand in the first game and experienced a break point.
Djokovic seized it with a return winner, forging an early advantage.
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Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal fought at the Six Kings Slam in Riyadh.
World no. 4 climbed back from 0-30 in the second game and closed it after deuces with a beautiful forehand down the line winner for a 2-0 lead.
The Spaniard held at 15 in the third game to get his name to the scoreboard before the Serb wrapped up the next one at love with a cracking forehand down the line winner. Nadal saved a break point in the fifth game with a service winner and held, remaining within one break deficit.
Djokovic landed an ace in the sixth game for a 4-2 advantage and made another push on the return in the next one. The older player sprayed a forehand error in the seventh game, facing three break points and experiencing a break at 15 after the opponent's backhand down the line winner.
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Novak landed a service winner in the eighth game, taking the opener 6-2 after a rock-solid performance. Rafa netted a forehand in the first game of the second set and offered his great rival three break points.
World no.
4 converted the second after another loose forehand from the other side, opening a set and a break advantage. Suddenly, Nadal pulled the break back in the second game with a forehand winner, erasing the deficit and leveling the score at 1-1.
The Spaniard closed the third game after a deuce and fired a couple of winners two games later for a 3-2 lead and generated three break chances in the next one. Djokovic denied them, two with winners, and locked the result at 3-3 with a forehand winner.
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Rafa faced issues on serve in the seventh game, offering Novak two break points. The 22-time Major winner erased them, the second with a forehand down the line winner, and held with a service winner for a 4-3 advantage. Djokovic forced Nadal's mistake after a deuce in the eighth game, bringing it home and sending the pressure to the other side.
The Serb collected three break points at 4-4 after the Spaniard's double fault and converted the first, notching a break at love and serving for the win.
Novak earned a match point at 5-4, and Rafa erased it with a forehand winner. Nadal painted another forehand winner for a break chance. Djokovic netted a routine forehand, getting broken and allowing his rival to prolong the battle.
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Rafa landed a service winner in the 11th game, turning the tables and opening a 6-5 advantage. Novak kicked off the 12th game with a backhand down the line winner and moved 30-0 up after the rival's loose backhand.
The Serb painted a forehand crosscourt winner for three game points and introduced a tie break with a service winner.
Djokovic placed a backhand long in the first point before landing an ace for 1-1. Rafa missed a return in the third point and forced Novak's mistake in the next one, locking the result at 2-2. The king of clay cracked a backhand down the line winner for a 3-2 lead, and the 24-time Major winner responded with an ace to make them even again.
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Djokovic landed an ace for a 4-3 lead, and Nadal drew his mistake in the next one for 4-4. Novak landed a forehand winner in the ninth point, earning a mini-break and building a 5-4 advantage. The Serb missed a routine forehand in the tenth point, keeping his rival on the positive side.
An ace sent world no. 4 6-5 up, generating a match point. Djokovic forced an error from Nadal, sealing the deal and celebrating a win.
