After three official duels on the ATP Tour, Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal embraced another duel at the Six Kings Slam in Riyadh. The younger Spaniard toppled the Spaniard 6-3, 6-3 in Nadal’s penultimate event in a career, moving into the title clash against Jannik Sinner. Alcaraz enjoyed the encounter against his great compatriot and idol, admitting everyone in the stadium wanted Rafa to win. The four-time Major winner acknowledged Nadal’s tennis legacy and the fact he brought so many people into tennis, hoping to do the same during his career. Rafa played his first singles match in almost two months and stood no chance against world no. 2 despite a couple of fine service games. Carlos kept the strings of the duel in his hands, attacking and sailing through his service games, facing no break points and mounting the pressure on the veteran. The 22-time Major winner could not follow that pace, struggling behind the second serve and losing 40% of the points.
Rafael Nadal, Six Kings Slam 2024© Stream screenshot
Nadal faced six break points and suffered three breaks, finishing on the losing side and arranging the third-place duel with his greatest rival, Novak Djokovic. The 21-year-old landed a forehand winner in the first game of the match and secured a break at love for an early advantage. Alcaraz closed the second game at love with an unreturned serve, taking the opening eight points and making a flying start. Rafa recovered his game in the third game, landing a volley winner and holding at love to get his name on the scoreboard. They reached a deuce on Carlos’ serve in the fourth game, and the young gun brought it home with a service winner to forge a 3-1 advantage. Nadal grabbed the fifth game with a volley winner, and Alcaraz responded with a forced error in the next one, building a 4-2 lead. The 38-year-old closed the seventh game with a service winner, remaining within one break deficit.
Carlos Alcaraz, Six Kings Slam 2024© Stream screenshot
Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal battled for the last time in Riyadh.
The younger Spaniard provided another fine hold in game eight with a forced error, moving 5-3 up and forcing his opponent to serve to stay in the set. After three fine holds, Rafa struggled in game nine, saving two break points but missing a game point. Carlos generated the third break point and seized it with a forehand down the line winner, wrapping up the opener 6-3 and gaining a boost. World no. 2 served well in the second set and mounted the pressure on the other side. He closed the first game with a forehand down the line winner, and Nadal responded with a service winner in game two, leveling the score at 1-1. Rafa faced issues on serve at 1-2, facing two break points after Carlos’ behind-the-back volley winner. The 21-year-old converted the second with a backhand crosscourt winner, building a set and a break advantage. Alcaraz cemented it with a hold at love in game five after a booming serve, marching toward the finish line.
Rafael Nadal, Six Kings Slam 2024© Stream screenshot
The veteran stopped the clock in the sixth game, cracking a couple of beautiful winners and reducing the gap to 4-2. Untroubled behind the initial shot, Carlos fired an ace in the seventh game for a 5-2 lead, keeping the pressure on the other side. Nadal served to stay in the match in game eight and extended the battle with a volley winner, having one last chance on the return to prolong the clash. However, Alcaraz provided another fine hold in the ninth game, moving over the top with a service winner and toppling his childhood idol. Rafa has been dealing with a series of injuries over the last couple of years, rising above them in the first half of 2022 and standing on 22 Major crowns. However, he injured his abdominal muscle at Wimbledon, withdrawing ahead of the semi-final and never reaching that level again. The veteran suffered a severe left hip injury at last year’s Australian Open, missing the rest of the season and embracing the most extended break of his career.
Carlos Alcaraz & Rafael Nadal, 2024 Paris Olympics© Stream screenshot
The Spaniard returned to action at the beginning of 2024, scoring two wins in Brisbane before feeling the pain around his hip again and withdrawing from the Australian Open. Nadal injured his abdominal muscle again in February and missed Doha, Indian Wells and Monte Carlo, staying away from the court until Barcelona. The king of clay scored five victories in Barcelona, Madrid and Rome, missing his old magic and feeling no confidence ahead of Roland Garros. Rafa fell to Alexander Zverev in the first round after a decent effort, experiencing his earliest Court Philippe-Chatrier exit and skipping the grass swing. The veteran reached his first ATP final in over two years in Bastad, falling to Nuno Borges and losing energy ahead of the Olympic Games. Nadal returned to Paris with the pain in his right thigh, passing the first obstacle before falling to Novak Djokovic in straight sets. Rafa and Carlos reached the doubles quarter-final, missing a medal battle after losing to Krajicek and Ram. The Spaniard missed the US Open and the Laver Cup and announced his retirement, entering the Six Kings Slam before ending his incredible tennis journey at the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga.
“Everybody wanted Rafa to win. Almost the entire stadium cheered for him, and it’s normal. Rafa brought so many people into tennis, and I will try to do the same in the upcoming years. It was amazing for me to share the court with him again. At the same time, it made me sad to think this was one of his last matches,” Carlos Alcaraz said.
