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Rafael Nadal was honored with a golden racquet after the conclusion of the third-place clash between him and Novak Djokovic at the Six Kings Slam. After losing to Carlos Alcaraz in the semifinal showdown in Riyadh, the 38-year-old faced a head-to-head competition with his old on-court rival, Djokovic, lost his semifinal to Jannik Sinner.
The Serb triumphed 6-2, 7-6(5) against his rival in Saudi Arabia. Following this, the officials at Riyadh showcased an honorable gesture towards Nadal by giving him a golden racquet. A picture of the same was shared, where the Spaniard was seen smiling while holding the racquet in his hands.
Nadal announced that he would be retiring on October 10, claiming the Davis Cup Finals to be the last tournament of his career. He took to social media and shared a video for announcing his career's final year on the court.
"I am here to let you know I am retiring from professional tennis. It is obviously a difficult decision, one that has taken me some time to make, but in this life, everything has a beginning and an end, and I think it’s the appropriate time to put an end to a career that has been long and much more successful than I could have ever imagined,” Rafael Nadal said.
Rafael Nadal opened up about his rivalry with Novak Djokovic
Rafael Nadal spoke about his old rivalry with Novak Djokovic in the post-mach interview after the loss at the Six Kings Slam in Riyadh on October 19. He exuded gratitude over the Serb's contribution in his career and wished him luck for his future in the sport (via SkySports)
"Novak, you helped me go over my limits for 15 years. I will probably not be the player I am [without you]. I wish you the best of luck for the future," said Rafael Nadal.
Along with this, he also opened up about the experience of playing for almost 20 years and thanked everyone for their support and love he has received during his career.
"It has been a dream come true to be able to play for almost 20 years being competitive, having the chance to play in the best places in the world, which I watched on TV as a kid.I cannot thank enough the support and love I have received all around. There was an amazing journey every single tournament over the years. I feel very fortunate to be a tennis player."
Rafael Nadal will next be seen competing at the Davis Cup, which is slated to commence on November 19, 2024.
