The most effective rivalries in tennis historical past wrote its ultimate chapter on Saturday.
Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal squared off for the final time–this one in an exhibition slightly than on the primary tour–on the Six Kings Slam in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Djokovic gained their third-place match 6-2, 7-6(5).
“Thanks very a lot for all the moments we shared on court docket throughout all of our careers,” Nadal advised Djokovic throughout on-court interviews. “We’ve had a tremendous rivalry. You helped me to go over my limits, so thanks for that–as a result of with out that, I might most likely not be the participant that I’m right now.”
The 37-year-old Spaniard is, in fact, nicely previous his prime right now. Nonetheless, he captured 22 Grand Slam titles–together with a report 14 on the French Open.
“The rivalry has been unimaginable,” Djokovic agreed. “It has been very intense, so I hope we can have an opportunity to sit down on the seaside someplace and have a drink reflecting on life and speaking about one thing else,” Djokovic stated throughout his on-court interview. “It’s been an unimaginable honor and pleasure to share the court docket with you. It’s an emotional second and an emotional day. We’ve been taking part in so many matches over so a few years.
“I’ll end with one huge thanks from not simply me, however all the tennis world, for what you will have completed. You could have left an unimaginable legacy.”
Djokovic and Nadal confronted one another an nearly hard-to-believe 60 occasions in official competitions, with Djokovic holding a 31-29 edge within the head-to-head sequence.
Nadal will wrap up his profession on the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga subsequent month.
Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and likewise maintains his personal tennis web site, The Grandstand. You may observe him on Twitter at @Dimonator.
