Nadal and Djokovic Face-off in Riyadh for Final Exhibition Match

The city of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, is hosting an exhibition tennis tournament dubbed the Six Kings Slam, where two of the sport’s luminaries, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, are set to meet for the last time. This event, which spans three days, culminates Saturday night with their match being a significant highlight, although both players were earlier defeated in the semi-finals.

Nadal, who recently announced his retirement plans, will face Djokovic in the contest for third place. Despite neither making it to the finals, their match garners significant attention, with Djokovic leading their historic rivalry 31-29. The Spanish star confirmed his retirement post his expected participation in the next month’s Davis Cup Finals in Malaga.

Beyond the Nadal-Djokovic clash, the event features a final match between tennis world leaders Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, slated to begin at 7.30 pm local time. Sinner and Alcaraz are vying for the record prize money of $6 million, drawing more intrigue to the tournament’s final day.

Prominent figures in tennis weighed in on the sentimentality attached to Nadal’s farewell tour. Carlos Moya, Nadal’s coach, remarked on his player’s nerves going into this match. “It’s normal for him to feel nervous given it’s his final encounter with one of his biggest rivals,” he told Sky Sports. Djokovic echoed sentiments of mystified camaraderie, describing their relationship to Corriere Della Sera as respectful rather than friendly due to their rivalry.

The Six Kings Slam exemplifies the exhibition model, offering no ranking points but substantial financial incentives. According to sources, each participant is guaranteed a minimum of £1.12 million, with the event’s winner to receive the largest prize in tennis history, doubling the typical Grand Slam champion’s bounty.

Nadal and Djokovic’s past matches have seen them compete with intense vigor, which is expected to continue tonight. Sky Sports will broadcast the encounter, highlighting an end to the professional journey of Nadal, a 22-time Grand Slam champion, revered heavily for his achievements, notably at the French Open, where he claimed victory 14 times.