Djokovic pays tribute to Nadal after final encounter: You have an incredible legacy
Novak Djokovic, a 24-time Grand Slam champion, paid tribute to his long-time rival and friend Rafael Nadal in an emotional and heartfelt exchange following.
The two great rivals’ final match on Saturday at the Six Kings Slam exhibition event in Saudi Arabia. Djokovic thanked Nadal for his impact on the sport and praised the Spaniard’s legacy. “It’s been an incredible honor and an incredible pleasure to share the court with you,” Djokovic said. “It’s been quite an emotional moment today, we’ve been playing a lot of games over so many years.”
Djokovic, who faced Nadal in one of the most famous rivalries in tennis history, reflected on the intensity of their battles and expressed a desire to remain close off the court. “The rivalry has been incredible and very intense,” he continued. “I hope that we’ll have a chance to maybe sit on a beach somewhere, have a little drink, reflecting on life, talking about something else. Thank you for what you have done, you leave an incredible legacy, and we really appreciate it.”
The tribute came after Nadal and Djokovic clashed for the final time at the Six Kings Slam exhibition event in Saudi Arabia, where Djokovic won the third-place match 6-2, 7-6(5). The exhibition marked the end of Nadal’s illustrious career, with the Spaniard set to retire following the Davis Cup Finals next month.
Nadal, a 22-time Grand Slam champion, responded with gratitude, thanking Djokovic for pushing him to reach new heights in their 15-year rivalry. “Thank you, Novak, for everything, for all the moments we shared on court during our careers,” Nadal said. “It’s been an amazing rivalry.”
“In a personal way, you helped me go over my limits during almost 15 years,” Nadal added. “Without that, I wouldn’t be the player I am today. Congratulations for all the titles and an amazing career to you and your team. I wish you all the best of luck for the future.”
The two legends of the game met 60 times throughout their careers, the most meetings between any two men in tennis history. Djokovic narrowly leads the head-to-head record with 31 victories to Nadal’s 29.
As Nadal prepares for his farewell appearance at the Davis Cup Final 8 in Malaga from November 19-24, the tennis world will bid farewell to a rivalry that defined an era. Though their competitive days may be over, the mutual respect and admiration between Djokovic and Nadal will continue to resonate throughout the sport for years to come.