Novak Djokovic would love to see more of Rafael Nadal, so he asked him to delay his retirement and stay longer with us! Of course, Djokovic joked with his great friend during the Six Kings Slam ceremony in Riyadh after beating him 6-2, 7-6 in a battle for third place.
Two great rivals exchanged words full of respect after their duel, the last before Rafa retires at the upcoming Davis Cup Finals in Malaga. Battling between Roland Garros 2006 and the 2024 Paris Olympics, Djokovic and Nadal forged the greatest rivalry in the Open era, fighting for the most notable titles and embracing 60 official encounters.
The result was not in the spotlight in Riyadh, but Novak still proved the status of the favorite, outplaying the 38-year-old in the opener and prevailing in the second to wrap up his Saudi Arabia campaign with a win. Two veterans did not play at full throttle, although we saw exciting winners from both sides.
Nadal recovered his game in the second set, pushing his great rivals to the limits before falling in the tie break.
Novak Djokovic would love to see Rafael Nadal extend his career.
Djokovic provided four breaks and lost serve two times, missing a match point in the tenth game of the second set but sealing the deal in the breaker.
World no. 4 made a stronger start, placing a return winner in the first game of the clash and delivering an early break. Novak cemented it after deuces in the second game and held at love two games later to open a 3-1 gap. The Spaniard denied a break point in the fifth game with a service winner before struggling again at 2-4.
Djokovic converted the second break point with a backhand down the line winner, moving 5-2 up and serving for the opener. The 24-time Major winner provided another fine hold, securing the opener 6-2 in 31 minutes. Rafa sprayed a forehand error in the first game of the second set, losing serve and finding himself further behind.
Nadal pulled it back in the second game, raising his level and staying in touch with world no. 4.
The Spaniard held in the fifth game for 3-2 and generated three break points in the next one.
Djokovic kept his composure and saved them, two with winners, holding and leveling the score at 3-3. Novak missed his chances in the seventh game before making another push two games later. The Serb broke at love, opening a 5-4 lead and serving for the win.
However, Rafa saved a match point with a brilliant forehand winner and pulled the break back to erase the deficit and extend his chances. The set went into a tie break, and Nadal moved 3-2 up with a rare backhand down the line winner.
Djokovic responded with two unreturned serves and fired a forehand winner for a 5-4 advantage. The Serb missed a forehand in the tenth point, keeping his rival at 5-5 before creating a match point with an ace. He forced the rival's mistake, moving over the top and enjoying another exciting night with his great rival.
