Jannik Sinner triumphed over Carlos Alcaraz with a score of 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-3 to seize the title at the Six Kings Slam exhibition event held on Saturday. In the match for third place, Novak Djokovic outperformed Rafael Nadal, winning 6-2, 7-6 (5).
As Sinner and Alcaraz are expected to have numerous encounters in the future, the match between Djokovic and Nadal may have marked the end of an era in one of tennis’ most storied rivalries. Djokovic secured victory in a showdown between two players who have collectively captured an impressive 46 Grand Slam singles titles. Nadal, a 22-time Slam champion, is set to retire after representing Spain in the upcoming Davis Cup next month.
Following Djokovic’s win, the two athletes shared a heartfelt moment at the net. This victory comes in the wake of Djokovic having previously defeated Nadal during the Olympics, currently holding a 31-29 lead in their competitive history. Djokovic expressed the emotional nature of the match on social media, stating, “The last dance was an epic one. And of course emotional. I’ll cherish our rivalry forever, (at)rafaelnadal. Tennis will miss you.”
Meanwhile, Sinner’s victory against Alcaraz marked a significant achievement for him, as it was the first time he had beaten the Spaniard in four meetings this season. With this victory, the top-ranked Sinner walked away with a substantial prize of $6 million. He mentioned the high-caliber nature of their matches, saying, “Until now, every match was very, very good, but we will always hope this rivalry will last as long as possible.”
Earlier this month, Alcaraz claimed victory over Sinner to take the title at the China Open in Beijing, adding to his triumphs at both the French Open and Indian Wells this season. In their career matchups, Alcaraz holds a 6-4 advantage over Sinner. The young Spaniard expressed his commitment to enhancing their rivalry in the future, stating, “I will try to do my best every day … to hopefully make this rivalry better and better over the years.”
In the earlier rounds of the exhibition, Alcaraz defeated Nadal, while Sinner prevailed over Djokovic. This event, held in Saudi Arabia, awarded monetary prizes, but did not contribute to ATP ranking points, marking the nation’s latest venture into the world of tennis.
