Nadal talks about a possible final showdown with Djokovic

Rafa Nadal is already in Saudi Arabia to compete in this first edition of the 'Six Kings Slam', where he shares the stage with Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, Daniil Medvedev, and Holger Rune. The Spaniard, who announced his retirement for the end of this season, sat down with DAZN colleagues to analyze his current state but also to talk about his peers, emphasizing the greatness of the Big3 and a generational shift that seems to have arrived thanks to two names. We highlight below the most interesting aspects of that conversation.

Arrival at the tournament

“I've been without playing tennis for a long time, so I'm happy to be here to compete alongside a fantastic group of players, good friends. I'm looking forward to everything starting. I don't know what will happen; it's clear that all matches will be highly competitive because we are talking about the best players in the world. My expectations are not very high; I just want to be on the court, be part of the show, and have fans enjoy the entertainment.”

Possible duel with Djokovic

“We have faced each other many times in our careers; we don't need to play again (laughs). For me, competing against Novak was always a challenge. He is a great rival who has always pushed me to the maximum level, taken me to the limit. I think we both have felt this sensation, including Roger Federer as well. Among the three of us, we have always helped each other to reach a superior level, always being very tough rivals and pushing ourselves towards new successes.”

Improvement, a never-ending mission

“It's one of the most beautiful aspects of sports, of course. You need to have that determination and clearly defined goals to work every day aiming to be better. Having great opponents on the other side of the net gives you a clearer perspective on what things you need to keep doing.”

Boosting tennis in Saudi Arabia

“We usually come here during a part of the tour, but it's positive that another country is open to creating big events during different times of the calendar. It's good news for the country, first and foremost, but also for us to have new experiences and come here to compete.”

The future of Alcaraz and Sinner

“They are doing really well; they are still very young but already achieving great things like winning Grand Slams or Masters 1000 tournaments. They already have some impressive records. Both Carlos and Jannik, especially these two, have very special qualities. They will surely help others to be even better. They have started their careers with some impressive stats; hopefully, they can stay clear of injuries and will have fantastic trajectories.”

A new Big2?

“We have to wait; it's clear that in 2024, they have shared all the Grand Slams between them, besides currently being at No. 1 and No. 2 in the rankings. They are creating their own story. I think it's not the time to compare which generation has been better; ours is about to retire completely, as it's the law of life. Every new generation that comes in needs to produce its own rivalries and its own story, without needing to compare them to those before. The day they are not active anymore, there will be time for comparisons.”

Friendships on the circuit

“I've had a special relationship with Roger, but with Novak, I'm also having it. That's how I live sports, going beyond the matches; in life, there are things much more important than tennis. At the end of the day, if you have a good relationship with your colleagues, those around you, undoubtedly the experience will be much more satisfying. Tennis is a very solitary sport; I think it's important to take care of this aspect.”

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Nadal habla sobre un posible último duelo con Djokovic