Novak Djokovic would like to see extra of Rafael Nadal, so he requested him to delay his retirement and keep longer with us! After all, Djokovic joked together with his nice buddy throughout the Six Kings Slam ceremony in Riyadh after beating him 6-2, 7-6 in a battle for third place.
Two nice rivals exchanged phrases stuffed with respect after their duel, the final earlier than Rafa retires on the upcoming Davis Cup Finals in Malaga. Battling between Roland Garros 2006 and the 2024 Paris Olympics, Djokovic and Nadal cast the best rivalry within the Open period, combating for essentially the most notable titles and embracing 60 official encounters.
The end result was not within the highlight in Riyadh, however Novak nonetheless proved the standing of the favourite, outplaying the 38-year-old within the opener and prevailing within the second to wrap up his Saudi Arabia marketing campaign with a win. Two veterans didn’t play at full throttle, though we noticed thrilling winners from either side.
Nadal recovered his recreation within the second set, pushing his nice rivals to the bounds earlier than falling within the tie break.
Novak Djokovic would like to see Rafael Nadal lengthen his profession.
Djokovic supplied 4 breaks and misplaced serve two occasions, lacking a match level within the tenth recreation of the second set however sealing the deal within the breaker.
World no. 4 made a stronger begin, putting a return winner within the first recreation of the conflict and delivering an early break. Novak cemented it after deuces within the second recreation and held at love two video games later to open a 3-1 hole. The Spaniard denied a break level within the fifth recreation with a service winner earlier than struggling once more at 2-4.
Djokovic transformed the second break level with a backhand down the road winner, shifting 5-2 up and serving for the opener. The 24-time Main winner supplied one other positive maintain, securing the opener 6-2 in 31 minutes. Rafa sprayed a forehand error within the first recreation of the second set, dropping serve and discovering himself additional behind.
Nadal pulled it again within the second recreation, elevating his degree and staying in contact with world no. 4.
The Spaniard held within the fifth recreation for 3-2 and generated three break factors within the subsequent one.
Djokovic stored his composure and saved them, two with winners, holding and leveling the rating at 3-3. Novak missed his possibilities within the seventh recreation earlier than making one other push two video games later. The Serb broke at love, opening a 5-4 lead and serving for the win.
Nevertheless, Rafa saved a match level with an excellent forehand winner and pulled the break again to erase the deficit and lengthen his possibilities. The set went right into a tie break, and Nadal moved 3-2 up with a uncommon backhand down the road winner.
Djokovic responded with two unreturned serves and fired a forehand winner for a 5-4 benefit. The Serb missed a forehand within the tenth level, maintaining his rival at 5-5 earlier than making a match level with an ace. He pressured the rival’s mistake, shifting excessive and having fun with one other thrilling night time together with his nice rival.
“Do not depart tennis man” 🥹@DjokerNole @RafaelNadal #SixKingsSlam pic.twitter.com/WTtpYAbSrv — Tennis TV (@TennisTV) October 19, 2024
