Djokovic, respect and last victory against Nadal

On the multimillion-dollar stage of the Six Kings Tournament, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic smashed their rackets for the last time on the same court. The most successful of the men’s circuit, with 22 and 24 Grand Slams respectively, offered an encore of old rockers after sixty concerts (31 for the Serbian) to each one with more adrenaline. There was not so much in Riyadh (6-2 and 7-6 (5) for Djokovic), because one has little energy left and the other did not want to draw blood, which is why there is respect after almost twenty years fighting for all the securities. A respect that both understand giving the best of themselves. As has been the case on the great afternoons in which they hit full adrenaline to elevate tennis and themselves.

After 29 finals, nine of the greats (thirteen for the Spaniard), played in Riyadh for the consolation of this luxury tournament with the aroma of the afternoons of yesteryear, of the tennis of yesteryear, of which they were owners and best exponents. One that begins to blur because those who created it are retiring: long points, study, strategy, effects, tactics, patience.

Nadal lacked mobility and speed, of course, but he has put another point of intention into this quality training, memories and emotions, which has, like everything Nadal does, the objective of improving. Even at this point in his career, in the middle of his farewell tour, because in November he wants nothing more than to offer his best repertoire, in duo or alone, whatever suits Spain best to try to lift the Davis Cup.

That’s why there was no wear and tear, neither on the Spaniard’s side nor on the Serbian’s side, who had already given himself a good beating against Jannik Sinner, reluctant as he is to give up with a bang. But there were blows from before, ones that seemed to last forever. And defenses of the most purely Nadalian, persistence like DNA, and precise attacks of the most Djokovian. And applause and congratulations from one to another, who have played a lot, more have been taken away, but it was time to pay the tribute that the Balearic player deserves even from his staunchest rivals.

The Spaniard neither rushed lines nor launched sprints. He played with his wrist, with his arm, with enthusiasm displayed among the fans, shouts of joy when he won his first game in the first set, when he saved a break and took the lead in the second.

Cautious both, they played a little more in the second chapter, the Serbian linked parallel forehands and those backhands as crossed as the Spanish were lethal. Breakthrough opportunities for both that made the staff happy, delighted with this revival that from now on can only be seen in newspaper archives and archives.

But Nadal did not want to leave without giving away a new video that will fuel the disbelief of the future. His style and his competitive gene when Djokovic was already serving to win. With 5-4 and the rest, Nadal was released, the Nadal that the staff is trying to learn to say goodbye to his days and his joys: two lashes of the house, in the race and with an inward effect that took away the applause, the smile and the ovation from the stands. “Rafa, Rafa, Rafa”, in Arabic, as it has been in all languages ​​around the world.

It could not be any other way that the match was decided in a tie break, where both have been kings thanks to that firm mentality with which they have always been superior to many of their generation and subsequent generations. There, the best that the two had, very long points, huge respect and a victory for Djokovic between smiles from Nadal in the hug. They are the two with the most titles on the men’s circuit, they are the two who have played the most matches in the ATP, so many experiences that today end between them, and that puts an end to an unrepeatable era.