Novak Djokovic, one of the greatest tennis players of all time, has urged his longtime rival, Rafael Nadal, not to retire from tennis just yet. This plea came after Djokovic defeated Nadal in what could be their final match against each other at the “Six Kings Slam” exhibition in Saudi Arabia.
Djokovic, who is 37 years old, beat Nadal in straight sets with a score of 6-2, 7-6 (7/5). During an on-court interview after the match, Djokovic said, “Don’t leave tennis, man,” expressing his hope that Nadal would reconsider his decision to retire.
Nadal, who is 38 years old, had announced on October 10 that he would be retiring from tennis after the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga next month. The match in Saudi Arabia was billed as possibly Nadal’s last singles contest as a professional.
The rivalry between Djokovic and Nadal has been one of the most intense and celebrated in tennis history. They have faced each other 60 times on the main tour, with Djokovic holding a narrow 31-29 lead. Djokovic reflected on their rivalry, saying it had been “very intense” and expressed his hope that they could one day sit on a beach together and have a drink.
Nadal, who received a golden tennis racket after the match, thanked Djokovic for the “amazing rivalry” and “for all the moments we shared on court.” Nadal’s fitness level has been a concern, as he acknowledged it was well below that of the tour’s top players after losing to Carlos Alcaraz in his first match at the Saudi exhibition.
