Novak Djokovic beats Rafael Nadal in 'One Last Dance' at Six Kings Slam

Six Kings Slam: Novak Djokovic defeated Rafael Nadal in straight sets in the third-place playoff-match on Saturday. Djokovic won the match 6-2, 7-6 (7-5). The duo faced each other on the tour 60 times since 2006 but won't be meeting anymore as Nadal will retire from professional tennis after the Davis Cup tie against Netherlands.

In Short

• Novak Djokovic beat Rafael Nadal 6-2, 7-6 (7-5) on Saturday
• Djokovic and Nadal faced each other 60 times on the tour
• Nadal will retire later this year after the Davis Cup tie against the Netherlands

Novak Djokovic beat Rafael Nadal in straight sets in One Last Dance between the legends of the game in the inaugural edition of the Six Kings Slam in Riyadh. On Saturday, October 19, Djokovic beat Nadal 6-2, 7-6 (7-5) in the third-place playoff match in front of a packed house.

Nadal and Djokovic have shared a great rivalry over the years, with the Serb leading the Spaniard 31-29 on the ATP tour. Djokovic had earlier beaten Nadal in straight sets in the Paris Olympics two months ago. Both they won’t be meeting any more on the tour as Nadal will retire from professional tennis after the Davis Cup tie against the Netherlands later this year.

“The rivalry has been incredible. It’s been very intense. I hope we will have a chance to sit on the beach somewhere and have a drink reflecting on life and talking about something else,” Djokovic said in the on-court interview after the match.

The first set was a one-sided affair in favour of Djokovic, who looked in command throughout. The Serb, who holds the record for most Grand Slam singles titles in men’s tennis, earned an early break to go 3-1 up and closed out the set comfortably.

The second set, however, turned out to be a thriller. Nadal held his nerves to take the set into a tie-breaker. At 5-5, the veteran was not willing to throw in the towel. But an unforced error on the backhand from the Spanish great brought the curtains down on the match.

After the match, Nadal also received a golden racquet. Djokovic also went down the memory lane to playing against his opponent nearly 20 years ago.

“I don’t know where to start. I’ll go back to the first match we played in 2005 I think it was. Who would know we would be standing here 20 years later more than 60 times we faced each other. I have the utmost respect for you. Incredible athlete. Incredible person,” Djokovic added.

In the Six Kings Slam, World No.1 Jannik Sinner will lock horns with Carlos Alcaraz in the men’s singles final.