Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal set to win this ‘hefty’ amount at the Six Kings Slam
Novak Djokovic has finished third in the Six Kings Slam after beating Rafael Nadal 6-2, 7-6 in their last encounter.
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Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic (via X)
Novak Djokovic closed the chapter on one of the greatest tennis rivalries of all time by defeating Rafael Nadal 6-2, 7-6 at the Six Kings Slam. The duo have faced each other 60 times on the ATP Tour, but Djokovic’s win won’t count in the official records since it was an exhibition match.
Despite not winning the top prize in Saudi Arabia, Djokovic and Nadal can be proud of their efforts. The duo earned 1.5 million dollars in prize money for finishing third and fourth in the event, a sum allocated to all players except the winner.
Djokovic was dominant from the start against Nadal, taking the first set 6-2. Nadal, having just played Carlos Alcaraz, appeared short of match fitness early on. However, he improved his serving in the second set.
In the tiebreak, Djokovic once again demonstrated his mastery under pressure, winning 7-5. The Serb has yet to announce his next tournament in 2024, with rumors circulating that he may skip the ATP World Tour Finals.
Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal officially end the Big 3 era in Saudi Arabia
The match between Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic at the Six Kings Slam officially marked the end of one of the greatest eras in tennis history. With this match, the head-to-head battles between the Big 3 have come to a close.
Although this match at the Six Kings Slam won’t count in the official records as it was an exhibition event, it will be remembered for years to come. The Big 3 era—comprising Roger Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic—began in 2004 in Miami, when Federer faced Nadal for the first time. The Spaniard won 6-3, 6-2, setting the tone for the early part of their rivalry.
Federer and Nadal’s first Grand Slam meeting came in the 2005 Roland Garros semifinals, where Nadal emerged victorious. In the following season, Djokovic rose to prominence and played his first matches against both Federer and Nadal.
Nearly two decades later, this legendary rivalry concludes with 150 matches played among the three. Federer and Nadal met 40 times on tour (24-16 to Nadal), Federer and Djokovic faced each other 50 times (27-23 to Djokovic), and Nadal and Djokovic played 60 times (31-29 to Djokovic).
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Fahad Hamid
(625 Articles Published)