‘Don’t Leave Tennis’ – Djokovic Bids Emotional Farewell To Nadal

Novak Djokovic urged his longtime rival Rafael Nadal to reconsider his retirement plans after defeating him in straight sets, 6-2, 7-6 (7/5), at the “Six Kings Slam” exhibition in Saudi Arabia on Saturday.

“Don’t leave tennis, man,” Djokovic said during an on-court interview after the match, acknowledging their intense battles over the years. He expressed hope that one day they could relax “on a beach somewhere” and share a drink, reflecting on their storied rivalry.

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Nadal, 38, had announced on October 10 that he would retire following the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga next month. Organizers of the Saudi event billed Saturday’s contest as possibly Nadal’s final singles match.

Despite Djokovic’s appeal, Nadal has been unsure about his fitness for the Davis Cup, raising speculation that this exhibition could indeed be his last. Djokovic and Nadal, part of the iconic “Big Three” alongside Roger Federer, had faced off 60 times on the main tour prior to Saturday’s match, with Djokovic narrowly leading 31-29.

Their last competitive meeting came at the Paris Olympics, held on the same Roland Garros courts where Nadal claimed 14 French Open titles. Djokovic easily won that encounter 6-1, 6-4.

Saturday’s match followed a similar pattern, as Djokovic cruised through the first set in just 31 minutes, capitalizing on Nadal’s errors. Nadal, spurred on by the crowd, mounted a fightback in the second set, forcing a tie-break and thrilling fans with his signature fist pump before ultimately falling to Djokovic’s powerful serves.

“It’s great to see him still fighting even though he’s had injuries and struggles,” Djokovic, 37, told a post-match press conference.

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It was “a very emotional day, special day” because it was the “last time I play my biggest rival, Nadal,” he added.

“I’ve witnessed Andy Murray retiring this year in Wimbledon, Roger (Federer) a few years ago as well. And now Rafa, you know. It’s tough in some way to see them go, because all of my career, basically, I’ve played with them.”

After being presented with a golden tennis racket, Nadal in turn thanked Djokovic for the “amazing rivalry” and “for all the moments that we shared on court”.

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