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Don’t Leave Tennis, Djokovic Begs Nadal After Saudi Showdown

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Rafael nadal and Novak Djokovic

Novak Djokovic implored long-time rival Rafael Nadal to put off his planned retirement after defeating the Spaniard on Saturday in what was likely to be the final chapter of their storied rivalry.

“Don’t leave tennis, man,” Djokovic said in an on-court interview after beating Nadal in straight sets 6-2, 7-6 (7/5) at the “Six Kings Slam” exhibition in Saudi Arabia.

He added that their battles over the years had been “very intense” and told Nadal he hoped they could one day “sit on a beach somewhere” and have a drink.

Nadal, 38, announced on 10 October that he would retire from tennis after the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga next month.

Organisers of the Saudi event billed Saturday’s match as perhaps Nadal’s last singles contest as a professional.

Nadal said on Thursday he was unsure whether he would be fit enough to play singles in Malaga.

Djokovic and Nadal –- two of the sport’s famed “Big Three” along with Roger Federer –- had faced each other 60 times on the main tour prior to Saturday’s exhibition match, with Djokovic holding a narrow 31-29 edge.

Rafael nadal and Novak Djokovic

Their last encounter came during the Paris Olympics on the same Roland Garros courts where Nadal won 14 French Open titles, though Djokovic triumphed easily 6-1, 6-4.

Saturday’s match was also mostly one-sided, with Nadal spraying errors and Djokovic wrapping up the first set in just 31 minutes.

Feeding off the support of the partisan crowd who openly cheered Djokovic’s double-faults, Nadal rallied to push the second set to a tie-break, reeling off winners and even treating fans to one last iconic fist pump before succumbing to Djokovic’s relentless serving.

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

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

“I’ve witnessed Andy Murray retiring this year at Wimbledon, Roger (Federer) a few years ago as well. And now Rafa, you know. It’s tough in some ways 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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TENNIS

Rafael Nadal predicts when Novak Djokovic will end up retiring from tennis

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Rafael nadal and Novak Djokovic

Rafael Nadal made an entertaining appearance at the Six Kings Slam in Saudi Arabia but lost out to Novak Djokovic in their final ever match.

Battling valiantly against his compatriot and protégé Carlos Alcaraz, Rafael Nadal produced glimpses of his true game at the inaugural Six Kings Slam event in Saudi Arabia.

Despite playing his part in a tie that was not as one-sided as some expected, Nadal still failed to get past his younger countryman.

In the third place playoff, a final instalment of one of sports greatest rivalries took place as Novak Djokovic took on the Spaniard.

Coincidentally, Nadal’s most recent singles match also came against his great rival at the Paris Olympics, with that match – their 60th ATP encounter – falling Djokovic’s way.

With Nadal announcing his upcoming retirement this month, he has speculated over when Djokovic might join him.

Rafael Nadal predicts Novak Djokovic career and retirement plans

The pair faced off in all four major finals, with Djokovic ultimately stealing their overall head-to-head by 31 to 29.

In an era defined by the ‘Big Four’, Djokovic is the last man standing with Roger Federer and Andy Murray already having hung up the racquet.

Rafael nadal and Novak Djokovic

 

Having won the Olympics this year – an achievement that eluded him for so long – but no Grand Slam titles, many have wondered how long the suburb still has on the professional circuit.

Speculating over his great friend’s potential career plans, Nadal told AS: “As for Djokovic, I don’t know. I think it’s human that Novak, even if he’s still healthy, is at an age and it’s logical that the clock takes its toll on all of us and that, once Federer has gone, once I’m gone, since in the end we’ve been his two great rivals, at some point he also has a small mental breakdown and will find a reason to step aside.

“That’s what happens to everyone. And Novak is good enough to, if he’s healthy, continue to be competitive at the highest level and aspire to win the most important tournaments. And if he continues to be happy doing what he does, he’ll keep it up.

“If at some point, everything he has to do to have a chance of continuing to be at the top level is no longer worth it, then he will step aside, that’s what I think.”

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CELEB NEWS

Novak Djokovic moves ahead of Rafael Nadal with latest Masters 1000 win as he also closes in on another all-time record

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Rafael nadal and Novak Djokovic

Novak Djokovic now has the best winning percentage for ATP Masters 1000 events as he has surpassed Rafael Nadal following his third-round win at the Shanghai Masters.

Rafael nadal and Novak Djokovic

The 24-time Grand Slam winner – already the record-holder for most ATP Masters 1000 titles with 40 – brushed Flavio Cobolli aside 6-1, 6-2 to book his place in the last 16 of the hard-court tournament.

The win was Djokovic’s 406th in Masters 1000 events and he edged past Nadal in terms of highest winning percentage as he now sits on 82.02% with Nadal on 82.00%.

Djokovic is also within striking distance of another Nadal record at Masters tournaments as the Spaniard holds the all-time record for most main draw wins with 410 while he has 90 defeats.

The Serbian has a 406-89 win-loss record while the retired Roger Federer is a distant third.

Rafael Nadal 

The 10 Players With Most Masters 1000 Match Wins:

1. Rafael Nadal – 410
2. Novak Djokovic – 406
3. Roger Federer – 381
4. Andy Murray – 230
5. Andre Agassi – 209
6. Tomas Berdych – 191
7. Pete Sampras – 190
8. David Ferrer – 189
9. Stan Wawrinka – 165
10. Andy Roddick – 157

Djokovic will look to move to 407 wins when he takes on Roman Safiullin in the fourth round after the Russian upset 17th seed Frances Tiafoe 5-7, 7-5, 7-6 (7-5).

The Cobolli clash was only Djokovic’s second match on the ATP Tour since he was stunned in the third round of the US Open by Alexei Popyrin.

“From the beginning I had a clear game plan of what I needed to do, staying aggressive and trying to use every short ball to take the initiative in the point,” the former world No 1 said. “Cobolli was evidently exhausted after last night’s match [against Stan Wawrinka]. I think that has taken a toll, physically, on him today.

“I haven’t played too many matches, I think the positive in that is that I’m fresh, so I am happy to play every day [or] as long as it takes.”

Rafael nadal and Novak Djokovic

The Serbian took his record for the 2024 season to 34-8 while he has also closed the gap to seventh-placed Andrey Rublev in the Race For Turin with only the top eight qualifying.

Djokovic is currently eighth in the standings for the ATP Finals, but he is now only 220 points behind Rublev – who lost in the second round in Shanghai – with the sixth-placed Casper Ruud another 225 ahead.

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TENNIS

Davis Cup: David Ferrer Teases Rafael Nadal’s Sensational Comeback After Spain Atones for Last Year’s Humiliation

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Rafael Nadal 

Tennis fans are currently itching to see Rafael Nadal back in action in what’s probably going to be the last season of his illustrious career. The 38-year-old tennis star was last seen in action at the Paris Olympics where he lost to Novak Djokovic in the R2. Nadal skipped the 2024 US Open due to fitness concerns and now as per recent reports, he has also withdrawn his name from the Laver Cup which will be held on September 20-22. This move has sparked retirement speculation but everything is not gloomy for his fans. Spain’s Davis Cup captain, David Ferrer, recently gave an update on Rafael Nadal’s availability in Malaga.

Spain has got off to a flier in the 112th edition of the Davis Cup. Three ties, three wins, and Ferrer couldn’t be more pleased with his team’s performance. However, the addition of Rafael Nadal will boost their confidence further. Speaking about the probabilities of his inclusion in the team, Ferrer said, “I have spoken to Rafa (Nadal) but I don’t know yet, why not? There is a possibility that he could be with us in November. I knew that Rafa’s objective this summer was the Olympic Games, then he had holidays.”

The 42-year-old Spanish former tennis player further went on to add, “As a friend, I don’t say it as a captain, I think it’s good that he wasn’t here in Valencia, I think it wasn’t his turn to be here because he needed those days of rest and to be with his family. From here, what he decides about being in Malaga or not, will be a subject that I will discuss with him later. The important thing is that he is well, if they arrive in good condition I’m sure he is a player we can count on.” Spain has won 6 Davis Cup titles as of now and has been runners up 4 times as of now. Looking at their current form, Spanish fans can surely expect something big from this campaign.

Just imagine how wonderful it’d be to see Rafael Nadal walking off with the 7th Davis Cup title for his nation. Although Ferrer has admitted that there is still a long way to go before taking a call on the team that will be there in Malaga, fans have become quite excited with this little teaser surrounding their favorite tennis star. Nadal has always been that team man that the captains seek for.

For example, while announcing his withdrawal from this year’s Laver Cup, he said he was very much disappointed to miss this opportunity in Berlin. However, at the same time, he also mentioned, “This is a team competition and to really support Team Europe, I need to do what’s best for them and at this moment there are other players who can help the team deliver the win.” Nadal last played at the Laver Cup in 2022 with Roger Federer. What did the tennis world say about this withdrawal?

 

 

American tennis legend shows support for Rafael Nadal’s withdrawal decision from the Laver Cup

Frequent injuries and recovery time have deprived the fans of witnessing one of the greatest in the tennis world this season. Rafael Nadal has played just 17 matches this season! Although, he has recently claimed that, “Mentally I’m good, no problems. I’m at home, enjoying other things, training as much as I can every day,” fans want him to see him in action as soon as possible.

Talking about getting back to the court, Rafael Nadal will most probably seen in action at the Six Kings Slam in Riyadh. It’ll be held from October 16 to 19 and that’s probably will be his last tournament before the Davis Cup (if he plays). Talking about his recent withdrawal from the Laver Cup, several tennis stars have come up with mixed reactions.

For example, his compatriot, Alex Corretja, admitted that he was “really surprised” with his call because he felt the Laver Cup was meant to be more relaxed. He has also said that this is probably also an alarming sign of what’s coming next surrounding the 38-year-old tennis G.O.A.T. However, Corretja remains very hopeful about Nadal’s participation in the Davis Cup. “To be part of the Davis Cup final phase would be phenomenal for him and the entire Spanish team,” he added.

On the other hand, American tennis legend, Patrick McEnroe feels Rafael Nadal has taken the right call by announcing his withdrawal from the Laver Cup. He said, “Knowing where he’s at and knowing what he’s been struggling with, I think it was the right move.” McEnroe highlighted Nadal’s struggle on the indoor hard courts and he thinks this could’ve been more challenging for his body too at the moment. Grigor Dimitrov will most likely replace him at the Laver Cup. What are your thoughts on Rafael Nadal’s withdrawal from the Laver Cup and Ferrero’s hint about Rafa’s inclusion in the Davis Cup team later this year?

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