Novak Djokovic earned the third place on the Six Kings Slam in Riyadh. The 24-time Main winner confronted his biggest rival Rafael Nadal and scored a 6-2, 7-6 victory, leaving Saudi Arabia with a win. Rafa and Novak confronted for the final time earlier than the Spaniard ends his profession on the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga, closing an unimaginable chapter of tennis historical past.
They didn’t play at their greatest, though we noticed thrilling winners from each gamers. World no. 4 denied 4 of six break factors and delivered two breaks in every set. He managed the scoreboard earlier than Nadal made a push within the second set and made it extra fascinating.
Novak struggled to search out the primary serve within the opening set, however nobody may discover that. The Serb produced 4 comfy service video games and delivered a double break for 6-2 in 31 minutes. Rafa missed a routine forehand within the first sport and skilled a break level.
Djokovic seized it with a return winner, forging an early benefit.
Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal fought on the Six Kings Slam in Riyadh.
World no. 4 climbed again from 0-30 within the second sport and closed it after deuces with a fantastic forehand down the road winner for a 2-0 lead.
The Spaniard held at 15 within the third sport to get his identify to the scoreboard earlier than the Serb wrapped up the subsequent one at love with a cracking forehand down the road winner. Nadal saved a break level within the fifth sport with a service winner and held, remaining inside one break deficit.
Djokovic landed an ace within the sixth sport for a 4-2 benefit and made one other push on the return within the subsequent one. The older participant sprayed a forehand error within the seventh sport, dealing with three break factors and experiencing a break at 15 after the opponent’s backhand down the road winner.
Novak landed a service winner within the eighth sport, taking the opener 6-2 after a rock-solid efficiency. Rafa netted a forehand within the first sport of the second set and provided his nice rival three break factors.
World no.
4 transformed the second after one other free forehand from the opposite aspect, opening a set and a break benefit. Immediately, Nadal pulled the break again within the second sport with a forehand winner, erasing the deficit and leveling the rating at 1-1.
The Spaniard closed the third sport after a deuce and fired a few winners two video games later for a 3-2 lead and generated three break possibilities within the subsequent one. Djokovic denied them, two with winners, and locked the outcome at 3-3 with a forehand winner.
Rafa confronted points on serve within the seventh sport, providing Novak two break factors. The 22-time Main winner erased them, the second with a forehand down the road winner, and held with a service winner for a 4-3 benefit. Djokovic compelled Nadal’s mistake after a deuce within the eighth sport, bringing it residence and sending the stress to the opposite aspect.
The Serb collected three break factors at 4-4 after the Spaniard’s double fault and transformed the primary, notching a break at love and serving for the win.
Novak earned a match level at 5-4, and Rafa erased it with a forehand winner. Nadal painted one other forehand winner for a break likelihood. Djokovic netted a routine forehand, getting damaged and permitting his rival to lengthen the battle.
Rafa landed a service winner within the eleventh sport, turning the tables and opening a 6-5 benefit. Novak kicked off the twelfth sport with a backhand down the road winner and moved 30-0 up after the rival’s free backhand.
The Serb painted a forehand crosscourt winner for 3 sport factors and launched a tie break with a service winner.
Djokovic positioned a backhand lengthy within the first level earlier than touchdown an ace for 1-1. Rafa missed a return within the third level and compelled Novak’s mistake within the subsequent one, locking the outcome at 2-2. The king of clay cracked a backhand down the road winner for a 3-2 lead, and the 24-time Main winner responded with an ace to make them even once more.
Djokovic landed an ace for a 4-3 lead, and Nadal drew his mistake within the subsequent one for 4-4. Novak landed a forehand winner within the ninth level, incomes a mini-break and constructing a 5-4 benefit. The Serb missed a routine forehand within the tenth level, conserving his rival on the constructive aspect.
An ace despatched world no. 4 6-5 up, producing a match level. Djokovic compelled an error from Nadal, sealing the deal and celebrating a win.
