Carlos Alcaraz has admitted it will be a “difficult moment” when he faces his childhood idol, Rafael Nadal, for the last time on Thursday in the semi-final of the Six Kings Slam exhibition tournament in Riyadh. Nadal, a 22-time Grand Slam champion, announced his retirement from tennis after the Davis Cup Finals next month, making this one of his final appearances on court.
Alcaraz, fresh off a dominant 6-4, 6-2 win over Holger Rune, expressed deep admiration for Nadal, saying, “He was my idol and still is. He was one of the reasons I wanted to become a professional tennis player.” The reigning French Open and Wimbledon champion acknowledged that it will be tough to play against someone who has meant so much to him throughout his career.
Nadal holds a 2-1 advantage over Alcaraz in their previous ATP Tour meetings, but this match carries extra significance with Nadal’s impending retirement. The two Spanish stars teamed up for doubles at the Paris Olympics earlier this year and are expected to play together again in the upcoming Davis Cup Finals.
In the other semi-final of the exhibition, Novak Djokovic will face Jannik Sinner, who cruised past Daniil Medvedev 6-0, 6-3. The event is shaping up to be a grand finale as two of the sport’s greatest players—Nadal and Djokovic—continue their rivalry on the road to the final.
