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Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic have performed in some epic matches through the years.
There was the 2012 Australian Open final, through which Djokovic wanted nearly six hours to defeat Nadal in 5 mind-blowing units. And naturally the French Open semifinals the next yr, the place Nadal held off a comeback-minded Djokovic for a dramatic five-set victory in what some take into account among the best clay matches of all time.
And lest we neglect the 2014 closing at Roland Garros, or the 2018 semifinals at Wimbledon. The pair recorded 60 official head-to-head showdowns, so the record really goes on and on.
On Saturday, the legends met once more for one final time in a match that will not find yourself on a “Better of” record, however was one of many extra emotional encounters between the 2. With Nadal retiring from tennis subsequent month following the Davis Cup, the 2 performed a third-place match — sure, instances have modified — on the “Six Kings Slam” exhibition in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Nadal and Djokovic had secured byes into the semifinals of the six-player occasion and, as a result of they each misplaced their respective matches towards Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, each made it to the comfort match. Whereas it did not formally rely as their 61st assembly, it nonetheless served as a fond farewell to one of many biggest rivalries the game has ever identified.
Very like at their final assembly in the course of the Olympics in Paris this summer season, Djokovic took management early earlier than Nadal raised his degree within the second set. However, additionally like in Paris, Djokovic in the end discovered a approach to win and closed out the 6-2, 7-6 (5) match in 90 minutes. Nonetheless, not like on the Video games, the outcome actually wasn’t what mattered on Saturday. As an alternative, it was the clear admiration between the 2 on the internet and after that might be most remembered.
After exchanging a heat hug, Djokovic was candid about his emotions for his longtime foe when chatting with the group.
“I am going again to the very first match we performed and who would [have known] we’d be standing right here nearly 20 years later, enjoying 60 instances,” Djokovic mentioned. “I’ve the utmost respect for you. Unimaginable athlete, unbelievable particular person. The rivalry has been unbelievable, very intense, so I hope we may have the possibility to sit down on the bench someplace, have a drink and replicate.
“I understand how a lot sacrifice [Nadal has made]. It’s an emotional day, so do not depart tennis, man! Stick with us. You’ve gotten left a tremendous legacy.”
“Do not depart tennis, man.” 🫶🥹
Djokovic shares some sort phrases for Nadal and displays on their rivalry.#SixKingsSlam pic.twitter.com/0I4yhGnqcD
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) October 19, 2024
Nadal, who was introduced with a golden racket from the match organizers, went on to thank the group for his or her continued assist through the years and mentioned he would miss “nearly all the pieces” about being an expert tennis participant.
“It has been a dream come true to have the ability to play for nearly 20 years being aggressive, having the possibility to play in the very best locations on the planet, which I watched on TV as a child,” Nadal mentioned.
Sinner received the general occasion crown — and a $6 million paycheck — later that day following a 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-3 comeback victory over Alcaraz.
Here is what else you might need missed from across the tennis world final week:
Sabalenka again on prime
After profitable the title in Wuhan final week, Aryna Sabalenka had narrowed the deficit between herself and Iga Swiatek to simply 69 factors within the rankings. With neither again in motion till the WTA Finals, it appeared doubtless Swiatek would maintain onto the highest spot till then, and that the year-end No. 1 could be determined on the WTA’s marquee occasion.
And whereas that battle for year-end supremacy nonetheless may occur subsequent month, Sabalenka took over the top spot earlier than expected within the newest rankings following “year-end changes for falling wanting sure match quotas,” in keeping with the WTA.
Neither Swiatek or Sabalenka performed within the required six 500-level occasions this season, inflicting Swiatek, who performed in simply two, to lose 120 factors and Sabalenka, who participated in 4, to lose 10. The ultimate 500-level match of the yr will get underway this week in Tokyo, however neither are within the draw and each will lose extra factors within the subsequent rankings. With a big hole between them and everybody else, they may stay within the No. 1 and No. 2 spots nevertheless.
Regardless of the considerably anticlimactic manner of getting there, Sabalenka appeared thrilled to be again at No. 1 for the second time in her profession. She beforehand reached the milestone final season however relinquished it again to Swiatek after simply eight weeks. The reigning Australian Open and US Open champion jokingly referenced her earlier reign in a social media put up on Monday morning.
N1…. Let’s have a look at for a way lengthy this time 🙌🤞❤️
— Sabalenka Aryna (@SabalenkaA) October 21, 2024
Three years in the past, American Tommy Paul received the primary ATP title of his profession in Stockholm.
On Sunday, Paul was victorious on the occasion but once more with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Grigor Dimitrov within the closing. However this time, it marked his third trophy of the season and was the conclusion of a dominant, near-flawless week. The 27-year-old did not drop a set all through his run and he wanted simply 85 minutes within the closing.
Tommy’s time ⏱@TommyPaul cruises previous Dimitrov 6-4 6-3 to say the title. 🏆@sthlm_open | #bnpparibasnordicopen pic.twitter.com/um3t1D883b
— ATP Tour (@atptour) October 20, 2024
Even Paul appeared impressed by his efficiency afterwards.
“That is the place I obtained my first title a couple of years in the past and to come back out and play the extent of tennis I did this week, it has been a dream,” Paul informed the group in the course of the trophy ceremony.
Paul, who’s now again to his career-high mark of No. 12 within the rankings, now sits in tenth place within the race for the ATP Finals. He’s 485 factors behind Andrey Rublev, who at present holds the eighth and closing spot, and may have an opportunity to get nearer to Rublev this week in Vienna.
Kasatkina wins second title of the season
After a powerful week on the Ningbo Open, Daria Kasatkina emerged because the champion on the 500-level match on Sunday. Within the closing, the 27-year-old defeated 17-year-old prodigy Mirra Andreeva in a curler coaster of a match, 6-0, 4-6, 6-4.
It was the primary profession assembly between the 2, and Kasatkina wanted just below two hours for the victory, claiming her second title of 2024 and the eighth of her profession. She is now ranked at No. 9 — her first time within the prime 10 this yr and only one spot away from her earlier profession excessive.
And whereas Kasatkina’s gutsy play all through the match definitely was spectacular — she wanted three units in three of her 4 matches and saved two match factors within the quarterfinals — it was what occurred after the ultimate that went viral. Through the trophy ceremony, a visibly upset Andreeva began to cry and was struggling to get by her speech. Kasatkina did not hesitate to assist as she jumped up onto the stage to console her fellow Russian (and occasional vlog collaborator) with a hug and a few encouraging phrases.
Cheering up her buddy 🥹@DKasatkina consoles Andreeva on the rostrum in Ningbo after a close-fought battle 💜#NingboOpen pic.twitter.com/Z24w8QF5AC
— wta (@WTA) October 20, 2024
Kasatkina went on to reward Andreeva’s preventing spirit moments later, calling her “the type of participant who by no means offers up.” She then added, “To win any level [against her], you need to nearly die on court docket.” In flip, Andreeva, who now ends her season ranked a career-high No. 17, congratulated Kasatkina in an Instagram post with a hilarious, however NSFW, caption.
Chaos in Ningbo
Whereas Kasatkina was the winner in Ningbo, there have been quite a lot of (literal) fortunate losers on the match.
Within the 28-player foremost draw, there have been seven girls, greater than 1 / 4 of the sector, who had misplaced in qualifying however managed to get into the occasion because of withdrawals. There have been in the end extra fortunate losers than qualifiers within the draw. Whereas it is definitely by no means unusual to see a fortunate loser or two get into the draw, having seven gamers pull out in such a small subject isn’t just unlikely, it created close to chaos.
Working example: Not solely have been there two first-round matches between two fortunate losers, Yuliia Starodubtseva — seventh in line for a fortunate loser spot — had already left the occasion after shedding within the first spherical of qualifying and had made it to her subsequent match by the point she obtained the decision that she was subsequent in line. Clearly not anticipating such a chance, the present world No. 89, who cracked the highest 100 for the primary time this month, then posted to social media that she was dashing again to the airport in hopes of getting again to Ningbo.
Misplaced first spherical of qualies in Ningbo. Which places me 7 in line for a LL.
Went to the subsequent match to begin making ready.– at present on the best way to the airport to return to Ningbo cuz I am 1 out 😬
6 withdrawals🫠 want me luck
— Yuliia Starodubtseva (@YuliiaStar17) October 16, 2024
Starodubtseva did not find yourself making it in time and Jaqueline Cristian, who additionally misplaced within the first spherical of qualifying and was eighth or decrease within the fortunate loser standings, ended up getting the spot. And since she changed No. 2 seed Qinwen Zheng, she even obtained a first-round bye. She then misplaced to Karolina Muchova within the Spherical of 16.
Replace: did not get in🥶
Good journey😂 on the best way again to Guanzhou. ✈️ pic.twitter.com/xgTItOvMnQ
— Yuliia Starodubtseva (@YuliiaStar17) October 18, 2024
The teaching carousel continues
Earlier this month, Swiatek parted methods along with her longtime coach Tomasz Wiktorowski after a extremely profitable partnership that noticed her declare 4 of her 5 main trophies. In a social media put up she mentioned she was targeted on discovering his instant substitute.
Shortly earlier than that, four-time main champion (and Swiatek’s buddy) Naomi Osaka cut up along with her coach Wim Fissette and employed Serena Williams and Simona Halep‘s former coach Patrick Mouratoglou. And on Thursday, Swiatek introduced she could be working with — you guessed it — Fissette going ahead. Many had predicted the partnership, and Swiatek praised Fissette for his “nice perspective, imaginative and prescient and large expertise at a really prime degree of tennis” in a social media put up.
Swiatek mentioned the 2 had already began working collectively forward of the upcoming WTA Finals however that their focus was “long-term, not short-term.”
“I mentioned many instances that my profession is a marathon for me, not a dash and I am working, working and making choices with this strategy,” Swiatek wrote. “I wish to say that I am very excited and looking out ahead to working with Wim.”
Some information ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/mqnctA4OJP
— Iga Świątek (@iga_swiatek) October 17, 2024
Thiem’s farewell
Forward of this week’s Vienna Open, beloved Austrian star Dominic Thiem was honored by the match with a star-studded celebration. The 2020 US Open champion and former world No. 3 introduced earlier this yr that the occasion could be his closing one earlier than retirement.
Billed as “Tremendous Sunday,” the match held an exhibition match between Thiem and his 2020 US Open closing opponent Alexander Zverev and had an on-court ceremony. Thiem walked onto the court docket by a tunnel of his friends, together with Frances Tiafoe, Matteo Berrettini and Jack Draper, and former stars, together with Boris Becker and Tommy Haas, as the group stood in ovation.
Probably the most great farewell ship off for not simply an unbelievable participant, however a very unbelievable particular person ♥️#DankeDomi 👏 pic.twitter.com/9mbw0xmKhj
— ATP Tour (@atptour) October 20, 2024
Different present and retired gamers, together with Djokovic, Nadal and Roger Federer, appeared in a video tribute and congratulated him on his profession.
“Thanks very a lot for all that you’ve given to all of us, however significantly tennis,” Djokovic mentioned. “I am glad that you’ve the chance to say goodbye in Vienna. One final dance. I want you an ideal match, with all your loved ones members current, and rejoice it, since you deserve it my buddy.”
Thiem’s first-round match is scheduled for Tuesday towards Luciano Darderi.
However, in fact, there’s nonetheless time for him to vary his thoughts. Simply ask Danielle Collins.
Collins unretires
After spending nearly the whole thing of the 2024 season on a farewell tour and answering questions on her impending retirement, Collins, 30, announced she wouldn’t be walking away from the sport simply but in an Instagram put up on Thursday.
“Along with managing some lingering well being challenges the previous few months, I’ve lately been seeing a handful of specialists to higher perceive what my greatest path ahead is to attain my final dream, beginning a household,” Collins wrote. “Coping with endometriosis and fertility is an enormous problem for a lot of girls and one thing that I’m actively traversing, however I’m totally assured within the group I’m working with. It’s simply going to take longer than I assumed.
“So, the DANIMAL story has not reached its conclusion. I might be again on tour in 2025.”
Now ranked No. 11, Collins hasn’t performed since shedding within the first spherical in Guadalajara in September because of harm. She beforehand had recorded among the best seasons of her profession with titles in Miami and Charleston, and by making her first Olympic group. She probably might be subsequent in motion at subsequent month’s Billie Jean King Cup as a part of the American squad and can kick off her 2025 season representing the U.S. on the United Cup in Australia.
