On Saturday, October 19, a match for third place in an exhibition tournament called Six Kings Slam, which translates from English as “Six Kings Slam,” took place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Unlike many other competitions, the tournament included this “bronze” match, in which the tennis players who lost in the semifinals competed. Novak Djokovic, 24-time Grand Slam champion, and Rafael Nadal, 22-time Grand Slam winner, took to the court.
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Between them, Djokovic and Nadal are 75 years old and have a rich history of going head-to-head. The Serbian is ahead: of 60 official fights he won 31; The Spaniard has 29 victories, respectively. And these numbers will not change, since Rafa already announced that he will retire from the sport after the Davis Cup, and the Serbian team did not make it to the playoffs.
Ahead of the final day of the tournament, Djokovic spoke about the matchup with Nadal and 20-time TBS champion Roger Federer. “I see this as certainly one of the greatest rivalries in all of sport and I am very proud and honored to be a part of this group. They influenced my game and my development as a tennis player more than any other player.
They dominated everything. I didn’t have a formula to beat them. They made me want to win even more. I knew that if I could find a way to beat those guys in the big matches, and I knew a lot of that came from there (points to head), I could crack the Slams and play better. And that is what happened,” Novak said according to the Argentine publication La Nación.
Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal after the final of the Australian Open – 2012
Photo: Scott Barbour/Getty Images
In the first set, Djokovic gave Nadal no chance. In the second game, however, the Serbian’s serve came at 0:30, but other than that, Novak had no difficulties in his games. The Spaniard had no break points and with his serve, Rafa twice allowed his opponent to break the break. In the eighth game, Djokovic served to win the match: 6-2 in 32 minutes.
In the second set, Djokovic, whether by accident or on purpose, who knows, slowed down and then Nadal was able to force the fight on him. The players took a break until 4:4, then there was a break to zero by Novak, but it was of no use for the match, losing a match point. However, in the tiebreaker the Serbian took advantage of the first match point: 6:2, 7:6 (7:5) in 1 hour and 31 minutes.
Immediately after the match, Nadal approached Djokovic with a smile and the rival friends embraced each other warmly at the net. A little later, Novak said, turning to Rafa: “I don’t even know where to start… Maybe, since our first fight, in my opinion, was in 2005 (actually, 2006 – Note from the “Championship”). Who would have thought that 20 years later we would play 60 games against each other? I have tremendous respect for you. Our rivalry was incredible.
I want to congratulate his team and his family on such a fantastic career. This is its merit. I understand what you went through with Rafa. Congratulations. Rafa, I enjoyed our game. Don’t leave tennis. Stay with us a little longer. I want to thank you.” And at the end of the match, Nadal received… a golden racket. Well, Saudi Arabia can afford it!
Rafael Nadal with golden racket
Photo: Richard Pelham/Getty Images
The big showdown began at Roland Garros 2006. Then Nadal beat Djokovic in the quarterfinals (6-4, 6-4 (rejection)) – Novak retired due to injury. This is what Rafael was like then:
Rafael Nadal
Photo: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
And this is what Djokovic looked like:
Novak Djokovic
Photo: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
The last official match took place in the round of 16 of the 2024 Olympic Games. Djokovic won 6:1, 6:4. And now this confrontation has finally become history.
Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal
Photo: Richard Pelham/Getty Images
