"Ne quitte pas le tennis mec..." Rafael Nadal changera-t-il d'avis après les mots de Novak Djokovic ? Probablement pas. En tout cas, l'Espagnol et le Serbe ont offert un beau moment aux fans de tennis samedi soir. Les deux légendes du tennis se retrouvaient pour un dernier affrontement symbolique en Arabie saoudite, à l'occasion du "Six Kings Slam", tournoi d'exhibition organisé dans le Golfe tout au long de la semaine. Après 60 duels entre 2006 et 2024, celui-ci a probablement été le dernier avec les deux joueurs en activité, puisque "Rafa" prendra sa retraite après la phase finale de Coupe Davis fin novembre. Logiquement, le Serbe s'est imposé 6-2, 7-6(5). Le Majorquin s'est battu jusqu'au bout mais n'a pas pu renverser la vapeur dans ce dernier affrontement contre son rival de toujours. L'accolade entre les deux hommes a été chaleureuse après la rencontre.
Video : @DAZN_ES / DR
Video : @DAZN_ES / DR
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00:00First, I want to thank His Excellency and the entire CELA team for organizing this incredible
00:20event.
00:21Congratulations.
00:22It was an amazing, amazing experience.
00:28Thank you for inviting us quite often now.
00:32It's been less than a year I've been twice here in Riyadh playing tennis in front of
00:37one of the most passionate crowds, really amazing crowd.
00:47Thank you all so much for coming every single match in big numbers and really showing your
00:52appreciation, respect and support for this sport, for all the players.
00:57Thank you so much, you've been amazing.
01:06Now to Rafa, I don't know where to start.
01:13I'll go back to the very first match that we played against each other back in 2005,
01:18I think it was.
01:22Who would know that we are standing here almost 20 years later with more than 60 times
01:28that we face each other on the biggest stage in this sport.
01:33I have the utmost respect for you, incredible athlete, incredible person.
01:46You know, the rivalry has been incredible really and has been very intense, so I hope
01:52that we'll have a chance to maybe sit on the beach somewhere and have a little drink,
01:56reflecting on life, talking about something else, you know.
02:02And I would like to congratulate all your team and all your family on an amazing career
02:08that Rafa had.
02:10It's also your success.
02:17I know how much sacrifice a family has to put into the career and the life of a professional
02:25tennis player.
02:26I can only imagine the highs and lows that you were going through with him, so you deserve
02:33this success as much as he does, so congratulations, an amazing, amazing career.
02:44Yeah, I mean, it's difficult, I could speak all night, but I don't want to take away too
02:48much time.
02:49I think Rafa should speak instead of me, but once again, it's been an incredible honor,
02:56as I told you at the net.
02:59Incredible pleasure to share the court with you and, you know, it's quite an emotional
03:06moment, you know, emotional day.
03:09You know, we've been playing so many matches over so many years and don't leave tennis,
03:17man.
03:18Stay a little bit more.
03:19Stay with us.
03:20Yeah, I will finish with one big thank you from not just me, but all of the tennis world
03:32for what you have done.
03:33You left an incredible legacy and mark and we really appreciate it.