RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — Novak Djokovic implored long-time adversary Rafael Nadal to put off his planned retirement after defeating the Spaniard Saturday in what was likely to be the final chapter of their “amazing rivalry.”
“Don’t leave tennis, man,” Djokovic said in an on-court interview after beating Nadal in straight sets 6-2, 7-6 (7/5) at the “Six Kings Slam” exhibition in Saudi Arabia.
He added that their battles over the years had been “very intense” and told Nadal he hoped they could one day “sit on a beach somewhere” and have a drink.
Nadal, 38, announced on Oct. 10 that he would retire from tennis after the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga next month. But Nadal said Thursday he was unsure whether he would be fit enough to play singles in Malaga.
Djokovic and Nadal – two of the sport’s famed “Big Three” along with Roger Federer – had faced each other 60 times on the main tour prior to Saturday’s exhibition match, with Djokovic holding a narrow 31-29 edge.
Their last encounter came during the Paris Olympics.