Djokovic Defeats Nadal as Their ‘Amazing Rivalry’ Concludes

Novak Djokovic emerged victorious over Rafael Nadal in their final professional encounter, winning 6-2, 7-6 (7-5) at the Six Kings Slam exhibition match in Saudi Arabia. This emotional match, marking the end of their legendary rivalry, was held in Riyadh, where both players were celebrated for their long-standing impact on tennis.

Nadal, 38, had previously announced his plans to retire at the end of the season, making this one of his last professional matches. Reflecting on their storied history, Nadal praised Djokovic and acknowledged that their fierce competition helped shape his career. “You helped me to go over my limits… without that, I would probably not be the player that I am today,” Nadal said post-match.

Djokovic and Nadal have faced each other 59 times in their careers, with this match bringing an emotional close to one of the greatest rivalries in tennis history. The two shared a warm embrace after the match, and Nadal was honored with a golden racquet in a tribute to his career achievements.

While Nadal will make one final appearance representing Spain in the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga next month, he reflected on the joys of his career: “It has been a dream come true to have been able to play for almost 20 years… I can’t thank people enough for the support and love.”

This match signifies the end of a historic era, as Nadal retires with 22 Grand Slam titles, including a record 14 French Open victories, cementing his legacy as one of the sport’s greatest icons.