Rafael Nadal, with the upcoming Davis Cup looming as his final tennis tournament, displayed a positive performance despite falling to the rising star Carlos Alcaraz in the semifinals of the Six Kings Slam. The exhibition event, held in Saudi Arabia, doesn’t offer ATP ranking points but provides a platform for top players to compete for prize money.
The match against Alcaraz was Nadal’s first since announcing his retirement from professional tennis after the Davis Cup next month. Nadal, who teamed up with Alcaraz in doubles at the Paris Games, could potentially partner with him again in the Davis Cup.
“I have the Davis Cup in front (of me) in a month, so every day is an opportunity to be better and better and be ready for this final tournament of my tennis career,” Nadal said. “I want to try my best to be ready for that and help the team in some way.”
Thursday’s match marked Nadal’s return to the competitive stage since his exit at the Paris Olympics in July. Despite the loss, Nadal remained optimistic, stating, “Carlos was too good. I haven’t been on the competitive stage since a couple months ago. So yeah, I think it was a good performance, even if it was not enough to play against an animal like him. But it was a positive match for me, and I’m happy.”
In the other semifinal, Jannik Sinner secured a victory over Novak Djokovic, winning 6-2, 6-7 (0), 6-4. Sinner, who recently cleared a doping case, will face Alcaraz in the final. Meanwhile, Nadal will play Djokovic in a third-place match on Saturday.
The Six Kings Slam, with its high-profile matches and participation of top-ranked players, continues to solidify Saudi Arabia’s growing presence in the world of tennis.
