When the Spanish Carlos Alcaraz defeated the Danish Holger Rune, celebrated as he always does at the end of a match. However, a feeling that something bigger would confront him in the next round enveloped him.
Alcaraz advanced to the semifinal of the Six Kings Slam in Saudi Arabia. While Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner face each other in the other key, the Spaniard has the difficult challenge of fighting with his idol: Rafa Nadal.
The Spanish tennis star announced his retirement from the white sport less than a week ago. His last participation will be in November in the Davis Cup, which will be played in Malaga, Spain. At that time, Alcaráz will accompany him, but this Thursday, both will face each other as rivals.
On May 5, 2021, the first match against Alcaraz took place, when he came of age in the Caja Mágica. Rafa Nadal made ground, giving up only three games. The distances were shortened in the second fratricidal duel, in the semifinals of Indian Wells, 2022, and Carlitos had revenge two months later in the quarterfinals of the Mutua Madrid Open. Alcaraz earned himself to be considered Nadal’s natural successor at the top of the men’s circuit.
Now, a “last dance”, the fourth to be counted, will be the perfect farewell for both Spaniards.
The Six Kings Slam draw has the great peculiarity that the two veterans of the tournament, Rafa Nadal and Novak Djokovic, are exempt from playing in the first round, so they await a rival directly in the semifinals. Which forced Alcaraz and Sinner to fight until this point.
If Nadal beats Alcaraz and Djokovic to Sinnerthere would be the dream final for the winningest active veterans of tennis. Everything will depend on what is achieved on the field.
