"Don’t leave tennis man" - Novak Djokovic makes emotional plea to Rafael Nadal after last dance at Six Kings Slam, reflects on his 'incredible' legacy
Novak Djokovic has paid an emotional tribute to Rafael Nadal, following what was likely their final encounter at the Six Kings Slam exhibition event in Riyadh. The Serb also reflected on their storied rivalry and expressed his desire to see their relationship evolve beyond tennis.
After losing to Sinner and Alcaraz, respectively, Djokovic and Nadal locked horns in a blockbuster battle for third place at the Six Kings Slam. The Serb claimed a 6-2, 7-6(5) victory in what is expected to be their final on-court meeting. The legendary duo has faced off in 60 tour-level encounters, with the 24-time Grand Slam champion enjoying a 31-29 lead in their head-to-head record.
Speaking during the trophy presentation, Novak Djokovic reflected on their "intense" rivalry, which began nearly two decades ago. The World No. 4 spoke about his tremendous respect for Rafael Nadal, describing the Spaniard as an "incredible" athlete and person.
With their tennis journey together coming to a close, the Serb expressed his wish to someday sit on the beach with Nadal, have a drink, and just talk about life outside of the sport.
"I go back to the start, when we first played, in 2005. Who would know we’d be standing here almost 20 years later, with 60 times we faced each other on the biggest stages in the sport."
"I have the utmost respect for you, incredible athlete, incredible person. The rivalry has been incredible and very intense, so I hope we’ll have the chance to sit on the beach and have a little drink and talk about life, reflecting on something else," he added.
The 37-year-old also emphasized the immense honor of sharing the court with Nadal, highlighting the 22-time Grand Slam champion's "incredible" legacy. It was an emotional moment for Djokovic, as he made a touching plea to the Spaniard to delay his retirement and continue in the sport just a little bit longer.
"It’s been an incredible honour, an incredible pleasure to share the court with you. It’s quite an emotional moment, we’ve been playing so many matches over the years. Don’t leave tennis man, stay a little bit more. You left an incredible legacy and mark. We really appreciate it."
Rafael Nadal credits Novak Djokovic after Six Kings Slam clash: "You helped me go over my limits during almost 15 years"
Rafael Nadal also shared a heartwarming message for Novak Djokovic, thanking the Serb for his kind words. The Spaniard reflected on their incredible rivalry, expressing his gratitude for all the unforgettable moments they had shared over the years.
Nadal admitted that he wouldn't be the same player without that Serb pushing him to the absolute limit during their fierce competition. He also congratulated Djokovic for his exceptional career and wished him well for the future.
"I want to say a few words for Novak and his team. Thank you. For everything. What you said today and all the moments we shared on court. It’s been an amazing rivalry."
The Spaniard continued:
"In a personal way, you helped me go over my limits during almost 15 years. Without that, I wouldn’t be the player I am today. Congratulations for all the titles and amazing career to you and your team. I wish you all the best of luck for the future."
Rafael Nadal is set to retire at the 2024 Davis Cup Finals, taking the court alongside Carlos Alcaraz and team Spain in their quarterfinal clash against the Netherlands, scheduled to take place on November 19. Novak Djokovic has disclosed his plans to attend Nadal's farewell in Malaga.