Rafael Nadal reflected on a “great rivalry” with Novak Djokovic and said he “wouldn’t be the player he is today” after losing their last meeting as a professional.
The 38-year-old Nadal announced earlier this month that he will retire from tennis at the end of the season.
Serbia’s Djokovic defeated the Spaniard 6-2 7-6 (7-5) in their third-place match at the Six Kings Slam exhibition event in Saudi Arabia.
The pair shared a warm embrace at the net at the end, with Nadal receiving a gold tennis racket as part of a post-match presentation in Riyadh.
“Thank you very much for all the moments we have shared on the court throughout all our careers. We have had a great rivalry,” Nadal said in an on-court interview.
“You helped me push past my limits, so thank you for that, because without that I probably wouldn’t be the player I am today.”
Nadal will represent Spain in his final appearance at next month’s Davis Cup final in Malaga.
“What I will miss is almost everything,” added Nadal, who won a record 14 French Open titles and 22 Grand Slams in total.
“It is a dream come true to have been able to play for almost twenty years, to be competitive and to have the opportunity to play in the best places in the world.
“I have realized my dream of becoming a professional tennis player and becoming a successful tennis player. I cannot thank the people enough for the support and love I have received everywhere.”
‘You have left an incredible legacy’
With 24 Grand Slam titles, Djokovic is the only male player to have won more than Nadal’s total of 22.
The reigning Olympic champions had won 31 of their 60 ATP Tour and Grand Slam matches before Saturday’s match.
After the match, he told Nadal: “I have the utmost respect for you, an incredible athlete and an incredible person.
“The rivalry was incredible and very intense, so I hope we get the chance to sit on the beach somewhere and have a drink, think about life and talk about something else.
“It was an incredible honor and pleasure to share the field with you. It’s an emotional moment and an emotional day, we’ve played so many games over so many years.
“I’ll end with a big thank you, not just from me, but from the entire tennis world, for what you have done. You have left an incredible legacy.”
Italian Jannik Sinner will face Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz in the final on Saturday for the first prize of $6 million (approximately £4.5 million).
Together, world number one Sinner and world number two Alcaraz have won all four men’s Grand Slam titles in 2024.
Sinner won the Australian Open and US Open, while Alcaraz triumphed at the French Open and Wimbledon.
