WATCH: Novak Djokovic playfully persuades Rafael Nadal to join him on the dance floor as Spaniard cuddles baby son at Six Kings Slam party

Novak Djokovic and his long-time rival Rafael Nadal recently delighted fans with a spontaneous cultural exchange in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Djokovic coaxed Nadal to join him for a traditional Arabic dance during the 'Six Kings Slam' party.

The 'Six Kings Slam' exhibition, held in the opulent surroundings of Riyadh, brings together six of the top tennis players in the world such as Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, Holger Rune, and Daniil Medvedev for a series of exhibition matches from October 16-19.

During a lively traditional Arabic dance, the Serb, already in the rhythm of the moment, beckoned Nadal to join him. Holding Baby Rafa in his arms, the Spaniard initially shook his head with a playful hesitation. But the Serb’s persistence paid off as Nadal finally handed the baby over to his wife, Maria Francisca Perello, and took to the dance floor.

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This entertaining interlude came after both athletes received direct entries to the 'Six Kings Slam' semifinals. However, their journey in the competition took a turn when Nadal faced Carlos Alcaraz and Djokovic went head-to-head with Jannik Sinner. Both seasoned players were defeated in their respective matches, leading them to vie for the third place on October 19, 2024.

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Novak Djokovic vows to attend Rafael Nadal’s farewell tournament in heartfelt tribute

Novak Djokovic expressed gratitude to Rafael Nadal for their intense rivalry following the Spaniard's retirement announcement. The former also committed to being present at Nadal's farewell tournament during the 2024 Davis Cup Finals in Malaga, Spain.

On Thursday, October 10, Nadal informed his fans via a video that he would play for Spain one final time at the Davis Cup before retiring. Responding to this on Instagram, the Serb praised the Spaniard for inspiring millions of young players with his tenacity and other admirable qualities.

"Rafa, one post is not enough to express the respect I have for you and what you have done for our sport. You have inspired millions of children to start playing tennis and I think that's probably greatest achievement anyone can wish for. Your tenacity, dedication, fighting spirit is going to be taught for decades. Your legacy will live forever. Only you know what you had to endure to become icon of tennis and sport in general," the Serb said.

"Thank you for pushing me to the very limit so many times in our rivalry that has impacted me the most as a player. Your passion for representing Spain has always been remarkable. I wish you best possible farewell in Malaga with Davis Cup team of Spain. I will be there in person to pay respect to your stellar career," he added.

Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic have faced each other an astounding 60 times on the ATP Tour, making their rivalry one of the most prolific in tennis history. The Serb leads the head-to-head record with 31 wins to Nadal's 29. Their last official ATP match was at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where Djokovic won with a score of 6-1, 6-4 in the second round.