Former world number one Rafael Nadal was handed an incredible
gift by authorities in Saudi Arabia as he played his last fixture against Novak
Djokovic in the Six Kings Slam. The 38-year-old is regarded as one of the greatest
players in the history of men’s tennis in the singles category in the Open era,
having won as many as 22 Grand Slam titles.
Nadal, who has already announced that he will retire from professional
tennis after the Davis cup later this year because of consistent fitness struggles, faced Djokovic for the last time in
the third-place encounter during the Six Kings Slam on Saturday, where Serbia’s
legendary tennis star came out on top in straight sets with a score of 6-2,
7-6.
After the match, Nadal received an incredible gift from the authorities in
Saudi Arabia as he was handed a solid gold racket. After that match, Djokovic praised Nadal's impact and
thanked him for whatever he has done for tennis in general. The Belgrade-born
star also went on to express his desire and asked Nadal to continue playing for
a little longer.
“It has been a dream come true to be able to play for almost
20 years being competitive and having the chance to play in the best places in
the world,” he said. “I have the utmost
respect for you: incredible athlete, incredible person. The rivalry has been
incredible and has been very intense, so I hope that we’ll have a chance to
maybe sit on the beach somewhere and maybe have a little drink and reflect on
life, talking about something else. I will finish with one big thank you, from
not just me, but all of the tennis world for what you have done. You left an
incredible legacy and we really appreciate it. Don’t leave tennis man, stay a
little bit longer, stay with us.”
Azeem Siddiqui is a seasoned sports journalist and data analyst with a strong background in both digital media and live sports production.
He began his journalism career working with partners of The New York Times and has since contributed to several leading international sports publications, including Fox Sports Asia, Calciomercato, and GiveMeSport. Since 2023, Azeem has been part of the TennisUpToDate team, where he has played a key role in sustaining the platform’s growth and ensuring tennis fans receive timely and reliable coverage of the sport’s biggest stories.
In addition to his editorial work, Azeem has extensive experience as a data analyst in live sports broadcasting—particularly in cricket—where he combines analytical precision with creative storytelling. He has collaborated with multiple production companies and cricket boards worldwide, delivering real-time insights and data-driven narratives during live match coverage.
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