Rafael Nadal was overwhelmed in straight units by compatriot Carlos Alcaraz on the Six Kings Slam in his first match after asserting he’ll retire from tennis on the finish of this season.
Nadal, who will retire after the Davis Cup in Malaga subsequent month, misplaced 6-3 6-3 to Alcaraz within the exhibition event in Riyadh the place the winner will probably be awarded $6 million (£4.6 million).
The 22-time Grand Slam champion will play Novak Djokovic within the third-place play-off on Saturday, dwell on Sky Sports activities Tennis at 5pm on Saturday, because the Serbian misplaced to world No 1 Jannik Sinner within the different Six Kings Slam semi-final.
Alcaraz will play Sinner within the remaining at 7pm on Saturday as their new rivalry continues.
Nadal hasn’t performed because the Paris Olympics in August, the place he misplaced to previous rival Djokovic within the second spherical of the singles event and reached the quarter-finals of the boys’s doubles with Alcaraz.
Alcaraz acquired decisive breaks early in each units however Nadal performed some nice tennis at occasions, showcasing his trademark left-handed forehand.
“Carlos was too good. He’s been playing fantastic the last few years,” he mentioned.
“I tried. I haven’t been on the competitive stage since a couple of months ago. It was a good performance, even if it was not enough to play an animal like him. But it was a good match.”
Nadal’s profession has been hampered by accidents; he missed the 2023 French Open and was overwhelmed within the first spherical by German Alexander Zverev this 12 months.
He received his 14th and final Roland Garros title in 2022 and left the event on a jaw-dropping 112-4 win-loss report.
Nadal’s successes got here throughout a unprecedented interval when he, Roger Federer, Djokovic and, for some time, Andy Murray, dominated the game.
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Rafael Nadal says Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz are already big stars, nevertheless it’s too quickly to check their rivalry to his with Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic
“I feel very loved and supported around the world. I will never have the chance to thank everyone for all the support,” mentioned Nadal.
“They helped me when I was in rough moments and in positive moments. They were always there to bring me to the next level of tennis.
“I’ve had a really lengthy and profitable profession. The love I’ve had means I’ve achieved good issues on and off the court docket.”
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Novak Djokovic shared his response to Rafael Nadal’s retirement and the way it feels to be the final of the ‘large three’
Earlier on Thursday, Djokovic and Sinner met simply 4 days on from their Shanghai Masters remaining, the place the Italian got here out on prime.
Djokovic was unable to get revenge as he misplaced 6-2 6-7 (0-7) 6-4 in a high-quality match. Nonetheless, it means he’ll play Nadal for one final time to carry their exceptional rivalry to an finish.
The pair have met 60 occasions on the ATP Tour, together with Grand Slams, with Djokovic main the head-to-head 31-29 and has 24 Grand Slams to Nadal’s 22.
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Tim Henman displays on Rafael Nadal, ‘one of many biggest opponents’, asserting his retirement from tennis
What’s arising on Sky Sports activities Tennis this month?
- Almaty Open, Kazakhstan – ATP 250 (October 14-20)
- Stockholm Open, Sweden – ATP 250 (October 14-20)
- European Open, Antwerp – ATP 250 (October 14-20)
- Japan Open, Osaka – WTA 250 (October 14-20)
- Ningbo Open, China – WTA 500 (October 14-20)
- Erste Financial institution Open, Vienna – ATP 500 (October 21-27)
- Swiss Indoors, Basel – ATP 500 (October 21-27)
- Guangzhou Open, China – WTA 250 (October 21-27)
- Toray Pan Pacific Open Tennis, Tokyo – WTA 500 (October 21-27)
Sky Sports activities+ has formally launched and will probably be built-in into Sky TV, streaming service NOW and the Sky Sports activities app, giving Sky Sports activities clients entry to over 50 per cent extra dwell sport this 12 months at no further price. Discover out extra right here.
