Rafael Nadal tosses his head at Novak Djokovic as tennis superstars celebrate Six Kings Slam

In Saudi Arabia, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic will compete for third place.

Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic put his animosity aside during a heartfelt conversation during the Six Kings Slam celebration.

The legendary tennis players, who together have 46 Grand Slam victories, celebrated the night away before battling it out for third place in the rich Saudi showcase.

Even though Djokovic lost to world No. 1 Jannik Sinner and Rafael Nadal lost to Carlos Alcaraz in straight sets, it was clear that the sport’s new generation was dominating the established players.

While at the Six Kings Slam celebration on Friday night, Djokovic was seen on camera indicating for Nadal to join him in the center of a packed dance floor. With his youngster in his arms, a grinning Nadal made a valiant effort to stay off the field with a shake of his head.

Nevertheless, the Spaniard soon gave in, giving up his youngster and grudgingly going along with Djokovic, who wrapped his arm around his arch-rival before starting to do the traditional Arabic dance.

Later on this Saturday, Nadal and the Serb will put aside their politeness in order to get ready for a match that will see a significant amount of money at stake.

Rafael Nadal was dominated by Carlos Alcaraz in Riyadh (Image: Getty)

The biggest financial prize in tennis history, £4.6 million, will be awarded to Sinner and Alcaraz’s winner of the championship match. Just for showing up, those who failed at the first hurdle were given £1.15 million.

With 31 victories to the left-hander’s 29, Djokovic leads Nadal in their head-to-head matchup by a slim margin. They haven’t met since the quarterfinals of the French Open almost two years ago, and Djokovic decisively prevailed in that match this summer in Paris during the Olympics.

At the Six Kings Slam, Djokovic put Sinner to the test and forced a third set, while Nadal lost to Alcaraz 6-3 6-3. Djokovic has played a lot more tennis recently than Nadal, who will retire after the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga next month, even though he has limited his schedule.

“Carlos was too good,” Nadal said after his defeat against Alcaraz. “Over the last several years, his playing has been outstanding. I made an effort. It has been a few months since I last competed on the stage. Even if it wasn’t enough to portray an animal like him, it was an excellent performance. But the fit was excellent.”

The 38-year-old also sent his fans a heartfelt note. “I feel very loved and supported around the world,” he said. Both throughout my good and bad times, they supported me. They were always there to help me advance in my tennis career. I’ve performed well both on and off the court because of the affection I’ve experienced.”

Rafael Nadal tells fans to ‘wait’ till Novak Djokovic retires to achieve one thing

When asked whether Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner are on par with the Big Three, Rafael Nadal said that tennis fans should “wait” till Novak Djokovic departs.

After next month’s tournament, Nadal will join Roger Federer in retiring, thereby ending the Big Three era of men’s professional tennis.

After Andy Murray of the United Kingdom departed earlier this year, leaving Djokovic and Murray as the only remaining players who have really challenged the Big Three.

Sinner and Alcaraz, the current ATP Tour world No. 1 and No. 2 players, respectively, have been the subject of much discussion on their relative merits among the Big Three.

A six-player exhibition tournament in Saudi Arabia is presently underway, including Nadal, Djokovic, Alcaraz, and Sinner. The prize money on offer is unprecedented.

In his second-to-last match before retiring, French Open great Nadal was asked about drawing comparisons between himself, Djokovic, and Federer with players like Alcaraz and Sinner.

Nadal told DAZN, “We need to wait,” before his first match at the Six Kings Slam. Since Novak is still in the picture, I don’t believe now is the right time to make comparisons. We (Roger and I) have either departed, or will depart shortly.

Novak Djokovic was left emotional at Rafael Nadal’s retirement (Picture: Getty)

But that’s just a part of any athlete’s journey. A whole new generation is about to emerge. We should give children the freedom to make up their own tales and rivalries.

We don’t need to compare them to ourselves. We’ll be able to compare them when their careers come to a close.

Nadal may face Novak Djokovic in Saturday’s Six Kings Slam Grand Final after receiving a bye into the tournament’s semifinals.

“I will do my best,” Nadal continued.Competing against guys who have been on the road taking on the world’s top players is going to be an enormous task, I’m sure of it.

To be honest, I am not expecting much.Personally, however, I can’t wait to go back on the court and take on these guys.

In my opinion, the concert is going to rock.I believe the crowd will be captivated and the spectacle will be monumental when you assemble all these performers.

Serb Novak Djokovic affirms his intention to transition into a new profession as he admits to Sinner and Alcaraz

Novak Djokovic has disclosed his intentions for when he retires from professional tennis, suggesting that retirement may not be far off.

Novak Djokovic disclosed his extensive post-tennis agenda, acknowledging that he is experiencing difficulty keeping up with the likes of Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz.The 24-time grand slam winner is still in excellent condition at the age of 37 and has ultimately secured Olympic gold in Paris this summer.

He has been usurped by youthful chargers Sinner and Alcaraz, who have divided the grand slam victories in 2024, despite remaining a force in tennis. Sinner, the world’s top-ranked player, recently defeated Djokovic in the Shanghai Masters final.

Although he is eager to continue playing for as long as possible—he has previously expressed interest in competing at the 2028 Olympics at the age of 41—Djokovic has contemplated life beyond the world of professional tennis significantly. Additionally, certain aspects of his strategy may be unexpected to certain individuals.

He addressed the challenge posed by his younger competitors, divulging via Sportal: “I think I belong to that old guard that maybe can’t handle the youth anymore,” implying that retirement may not be fair right away. Change is inevitable; it has been discussed for years.

“We currently have young players, but we also have a generation that is in between, including [Alexander] Zverev, [Daniil] Medvedev, and [Stefanos] Tsitsipas.” These are all individuals who were or are currently in the top 10, with Medvedev being the highest-ranked.

“They will remain in the vicinity with the younger generation for an extended period.” Nevertheless, I am under the impression that you are referring to Sinner and Alcaraz. The two have cultivated an extraordinary rivalry over the past year, and this is the primary factor that has captivated the public’s attention. People may not follow tennis as a sport, but they all follow famous rivalries.

Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic during the Olympic final (Image: Getty)

Post-tennis, Djokovic has a lengthy list of objectives. In addition to his numerous commercial interests, he is enthusiastic about enhancing his musical and artistic abilities and may even pursue a career in acting.

“I have a wide range of interests,” he stated. “To truly acquire the skill of playing the saxophone, I continue to desire to learn.” A few years ago, I was able to play reasonably well for a period of time. However, my performance deteriorated as a result of my failure to practice consistently and in sufficient quantities.

“I am interested in acquiring the ability to sing and play a few instruments.” The saxophone is my preferred instrument; however, I am also interested in acquiring the ability to play the other instruments. I am passionate about the theater and am eager to acquire the skills necessary to perform in it. Theatre is my primary interest; however, I also enjoy watching films.

“However, I favor live interaction.” I am fond of comedy and endeavor to acquire some of the techniques from my peers who are actors. I would like to begin creating objects, painting, and drawing.

Regarding his business interests, he stated, “I am also extremely enthusiastic about matters concerning health and recovery, as well as sports science and biotechnology.” I have a comprehensive list of interests, and I am currently pursuing the development of brands through various partnerships. Additionally, I have made investments in these disciplines.

“My colleagues and I endeavor to unite all elements in order to establish a collection of robust brands.” Beyond tennis and philanthropy, I aspire to broaden my brand to encompass the realms of business, wellness, and beyond.