The last dance was an epic one. And of course emotional. I’ll cherish our rivalry forever, @rafaelnadal 👑. Tennis will miss you. As-salamu alaykum, Riyadh. #SixKingsSlam is a special tournament. See you soon 🙏🏼
Rafael Nadal thanks Novak Djokovic after their last clash: "It's been an amazing rivalry"
ATPSunday, 20 October 2024 at 01:00
Rafael Nadal thanked Novak Djokovic in their final confrontation after 18 years of rivalry. The third-place match at the Six Kings Slam was particularly emotional with Nadal's retirement and their last face-off on the court.
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The Spaniard recently announced his retirement at the end of the season, with his final official tournament being the Davis Cup Finals in Málaga. Before defending Spain one last time, Nadal was committed to this exhibition stop in Riyadh, which concluded with a spectacular match against Djokovic for third place.
In the semifinals, Nadal fell to his compatriot Carlos Alcaraz, while Nole lost to Jannik Sinner. These losses symbolically signal the passing of the torch from the greatest rivalry in history to the new generation, which promises an exciting rivalry that will last for many years.
Nadal and Djokovic Reflect on Their 18-Year Rivalry
With Nadal's imminent retirement, the rivalry with the most encounters in history comes to an end, with Djokovic leading 31-29. The two greatest Grand Slam champions will not meet again, at least not with Nadal as a professional, as Serbia is out of the Davis Cup Finals, meaning Nole will not be competing that week.
"Thank you, Novak, for everything, for all the moments we shared on court during our careers. It's been an amazing rivalry," Nadal said. "On a personal level, you helped me push my limits for almost 15 years. Without that, I wouldn't be the player I am today."
Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic at Monte-Carlo Masters semifinals, 2015.
Nadal and Djokovic have long battled for the title of the greatest Grand Slam champions. Back in 2021, Djokovic equaled the 20 major titles of Federer and Nadal in a three-way tie as the all-time greats.
In 2022, the Spaniard took the lead with 22 Slam titles after winning both the Australian Open and the French Open, becoming the record holder. However, Djokovic won four of the next six majors and stood alone at the top with 24 Slam titles, a record that Nadal will no longer be able to challenge. "Congratulations on all the titles and amazing career to you and your team. I wish you all the best of luck for the future," Rafa Nadal added about Djokovic.
On the other hand, Djokovic also had heartfelt words for his rival. "It's been an incredible honour and an incredible pleasure to share the court with you. It's been quite an emotional moment today; we've played a lot of matches over so many years," said Djokovic, a 24-time Grand Slam champion.
"The rivalry has been incredible and very intense, so I hope that we'll have a chance to maybe sit on a beach somewhere, have a little drink, reflect on life, and talk about something else,” he added. "Thank you for what you have done; you leave an incredible legacy, and we really appreciate it," the world No. 4 concluded.
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