Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic are set to face off for the final time in the Six Kings Slam tournament in Saudi Arabia this Saturday. This highly anticipated match, featuring the two leading Grand Slam winners in men’s tennis, is a third-place play-off and holds no title or ranking points as it is an exhibition event. However, it marks the end of an era for tennis fans worldwide as Rafael Nadal, a 22-time Grand Slam champion, has announced his retirement from professional tennis. His final appearance is expected to be in a Davis Cup tie for Spain next month.
Nadal’s career has been hampered by abdominal pain since his unexpected second-round exit at the Australian Open 2023, leading to a round-one exit at the French Open this year. This match in Riyadh will be his second encounter with Djokovic this year, following his defeat to the 24-time major winner at the Paris Olympics in July. Djokovic currently leads their head-to-head record with 31 wins to Nadal’s 29.
Both legends faced tough competition in the Six Kings Slam, with Nadal losing to Carlos Alcaraz in the quarterfinals and Djokovic falling to Jannik Sinner in the same round. The two young stars, who claimed the four Grand Slam titles of 2024, will compete in the final later on Saturday.
