Djokovic wins final dance against Nadal, ending legendary rivalry at Six Kings Slam

Novak Djokovic (R) triumphed over Rafael Nadal in their historic final meeting at the Six Kings Slam in Riyadh, winning 6-2, 7-6 (7-5) to claim third place in the exhibition tournament. (AN Photo/Abdulrahman Bin Shulhoub)
Novak Djokovic (R) triumphed over Rafael Nadal in their historic final meeting at the Six Kings Slam in Riyadh, winning 6-2, 7-6 (7-5) to claim third place in the exhibition tournament. (AN Photo/Abdulrahman Bin Shulhoub)
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Updated 20 October 2024
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Djokovic wins final dance against Nadal, ending legendary rivalry at Six Kings Slam

Djokovic wins final dance against Nadal, ending legendary rivalry at Six Kings Slam

Riyadh: Novak Djokovic beat Rafael Nadal in their historic final meeting at the Six Kings Slam in Riyadh, winning 6-2, 7-6 (7-5) to claim third place in the exhibition tournament.

While the result was decisive, the match was more than just about victory — it marked the emotional end of one of the greatest rivalries in tennis history, spanning nearly two decades.

Nadal, who has announced that he will retire after the Davis Cup Finals later this year, stepped on to the court to face Djokovic for the last time, drawing cheers from a packed stadium.

Their rivalry has defined men’s tennis for a generation, with the two of them meeting 61 times over the years, with Djokovic narrowly leading their head-to-head 32-29. For the fans in Riyadh, this match was not simply about third place — it was about watching two legends perform together one final time.

Djokovic, now with 24 Grand Slam titles, started strong, breaking Nadal’s serve early in the first set and maintaining control to secure it 6-2.

Despite his advancing age and recent injuries, Nadal pushed back in the second set, engaging Djokovic in a series of intense rallies that exemplified the skill, endurance and respect that have defined their rivalry.

After the match, Djokovic reflected on the significance of their final encounter in comments made to Arab News. “He remains the greatest rival that I ever had,” Djokovic said.

He went on to say that Nadal’s fighting spirit was as fierce as ever, adding: “Only he and his family and team know what he had to endure, to show still this competitive spirit. It’s inspiring, not only to players but also to fans.”

The second set was a fitting finale to their legendary encounters, a metaphor for the relentless pursuit of greatness that has driven both players throughout their careers.

The two tennis giants battled to a 6-6 tie, leading to a nail-biting tiebreaker. As the crowd stood on their feet, cheering for Nadal to extend the match to a third set, Djokovic ultimately held his nerve to win the tiebreak 7-5, sealing his victory and closing the chapter on their storied rivalry.

Djokovic offered deeper insight into that second set, which he said perfectly encapsulated their rivalry. “He broke my serve at 5-4, and then at 5-5 he made an incredible forehand winner,” Djokovic said, praising Nadal’s skill and determination. “The last four points were a great description of our rivalry,” he added, reflecting on how their competitive edge always pushed them to the limit.

Although Nadal showed visible frustration at his inability to secure the set, the match was a testament to what made this rivalry so special: two players of unparalleled ability, pushing each other to new heights time and time again.

Djokovic expressed his mixed emotions at seeing Nadal, and other greats of his era, move toward retirement. “It’s tough to see them go,” Djokovic said, noting that Roger Federer and Andy Murray had already stepped back. “All my career, I’ve played with them. It’s a very strange feeling to see them go and retire from tennis, and I’m still there.”

Despite the sadness of the moment, Djokovic acknowledged that it is part of the natural cycle in sports: “It is what it is. It’s evolution, a cycle of life. New generations are coming up, and I’m excited to see what’s next for me.”

This final dance in Riyadh may have marked the end of an era, but for fans, it was a reminder of the skill and determination that Djokovic and Nadal have brought to the sport over the past two decades.

As Nadal moves toward retirement, his legacy remains unquestioned, having inspired a generation of players, including Djokovic himself.

This match in Riyadh will be remembered as a fitting end to one of the most intense rivalries tennis has yet seen.


Pakistan recall Babar Azam for South Africa tour, Sajid Khan out

Pakistan recall Babar Azam for South Africa tour, Sajid Khan out
Updated 53 sec ago
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Pakistan recall Babar Azam for South Africa tour, Sajid Khan out

Pakistan recall Babar Azam for South Africa tour, Sajid Khan out
  • Azam was dropped following defeat in first Test against England in October, rested for ongoing limited-over series against Zimbabwe
  • Pakistan will play three Twenty20 internationals in South Africa starting from Dec. 10, followed by three one-day matches and two Tests

LAHORE: Pakistan recalled former skipper Babar Azam on Wednesday for the away Test series and white-ball matches against South Africa starting next week, but there was no place for spinner Sajid Khan.
The 30-year-old star batsman Azam was dropped following defeat in the first Test against England in October and rested for the ongoing limited-over series against Zimbabwe.
Pakistan will play three Twenty20 internationals in South Africa starting from December 10, followed by three one-day matches and two Tests.
Fast bowler Mohammad Abbas also returns to the Test side after last playing in 2021.
Off-spinner Sajid misses out despite taking 19 wickets in the 2-1 home Test series win over England, with selectors taking into consideration the less spin-friendly pitches in South Africa.
“We have adopted a horses for courses policy to ensure squads are well-balanced and leaving out Sajid was an extremely difficult decision,” Aaqib Javed, a senior member of the selection committee, said in a Pakistan Cricket Board statement.
Sajid’s spin partner Noman Ali, who took 20 wickets against England, is the only spinner for the Tests in Centurion and Cape Town. The first Test starts on December 26.
Javed said fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi has been picked only for the white-ball matches to manage his workload.
Opener Fakhar Zaman is still out because he has yet to regain form and match fitness, said Javed.
Pakistan squads for South Africa tour:
Tests: Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel, Aamer Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam, Haseebullah Khan, Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Rizwan, Naseem Shah, Noman Ali, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha
ODIs: Mohammad Rizwan (captain), Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem, Tayyab Tahir, Usman Khan
T20Is: Mohammad Rizwan (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Jahandad Khan, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Irfan Khan, Omair Bin Yousuf, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem, Tayyab Tahir, Usman Khan


AC Milan and Bologna reach Italian Cup quarterfinals with convincing wins

AC Milan and Bologna reach Italian Cup quarterfinals with convincing wins
Updated 04 December 2024
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AC Milan and Bologna reach Italian Cup quarterfinals with convincing wins

AC Milan and Bologna reach Italian Cup quarterfinals with convincing wins
  • Bologna will play the winners of  Atalanta’s match against Cesena. Both those round of 16 matches take place next week
  • The Rossoneri will face either Roma or Sampdoria in the last eight

MILAN: AC Milan and Bologna advanced to the Italian Cup quarterfinals with convincing victories on Tuesday.
Milan thrashed Serie B leader Sassuolo 6-1, while Bologna routed Serie A struggler Monza 4-0.
The Rossoneri will face either Roma or Sampdoria in the last eight. Bologna will play the winners of Atalanta’s match against Cesena.
Both those round of 16 matches take place next week.
Tuesday’s match at San Siro was all but over after less than 23 minutes as Sassuolo was swept away by a double from Samuel Chukwueze and other goals by Tijjani Reijnders and Rafael Leão.
It had been a much-changed starting lineup for Milan ahead of a tough Serie A trip to Atalanta on Friday and the Rossoneri made four further changes at halftime.
Milan nevertheless extended its advantage through Davide Calabria and Tammy Abraham, either side of a consolation goal for Sassuolo from Samuele Mulattieri.
Bologna scored two goals in each half, with Tommaso Pobega and Riccardo Orsolini netting in the first period and Benjamín Domínguez and Santiago Castro in the second.
However, Orsolini limped off shortly after scoring and Bologna now faces an anxious wait to discover the extent of his injury. The Italy forward is Bologna’s top goalscorer this season, with six goals.


After Verstappen victory, F1 finale in Abu Dhabi brings auto racing season to a close

After Verstappen victory, F1 finale in Abu Dhabi brings auto racing season to a close
Updated 04 December 2024
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After Verstappen victory, F1 finale in Abu Dhabi brings auto racing season to a close

After Verstappen victory, F1 finale in Abu Dhabi brings auto racing season to a close

ABU DHABI: Heading into the season finale, Verstappen has won 53 of 89 races in his championship seasons, or 59.6 percent. Verstappen can match Michael Schumacher’s record of five straight F1 season titles (2000-04) by winning again next year. Verstappen joined Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton (2017-20), Sebastian Vettel (2010-13) and Juan Manuel Fangio (1954-57) as drivers with four straight championships. Esteban Ocon, 14th in the point standings, has been released by Alpine and Jack Doohan will replace him in the season finale, making his F1 debut.

The race will take place on the Yas Marina Circuit and is 58 laps long. 

Last year, Max Verstappen won from the pole position, his seventh consecutive victory to end his third consecutive series championship season.

Verstappen, already crowned the season champion for the fourth straight year, won in Qatar for his second victory in three races and ninth of the season.


Djokovic to begin bid for 25th Grand Slam crown in Brisbane

Djokovic to begin bid for 25th Grand Slam crown in Brisbane
Updated 04 December 2024
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Djokovic to begin bid for 25th Grand Slam crown in Brisbane

Djokovic to begin bid for 25th Grand Slam crown in Brisbane
  • In a bid to surpass Margaret Court in Melbourne, he has teamed up with long-time rival and the now-retired Murray
  • Other men’s players starting their year in Brisbane include Grigor Dimitrov, Holger Rune, Frances Tiafoe and Matteo Berrettini

BRISBANE: Novak Djokovic will begin his 2025 season and bid for an 11th Australian Open title at the Brisbane International, it was announced Wednesday, with the Serbian superstar now coached by Andy Murray.

The 37-year-old is targeting a record 25th Grand Slam crown after failing to add to the total during a frustrating 2024, although he did win Olympic singles gold in Paris.

The ATP-WTA event runs Dec. 29-Jan. 5, with the Australian Open to begin on Jan. 12.

“I’m excited to be kicking off my Australian swing at the Brisbane International and to compete again at Pat Rafter Arena,” said Djokovic.

“I am looking forward to experiencing the incredible support from the Australian fans and making this tournament one to remember.”

Should he win, it would be his 100th career title, just the third man in the Open era behind Jimmy Connors (109) and Roger Federer (103) to achieve the feat.

Djokovic was beaten in the Australian Open semifinals this year by eventual champion Jannik Sinner with his failure to lift another major leaving him tied with Margaret Court on a record 24 Grand Slam singles crowns.

In a bid to surpass her in Melbourne, he has teamed up with long-time rival and the now-retired Murray.

The Brisbane tournament will also mark the return to competitive tennis of Australian Nick Kyrgios, who has played just one ATP Tour singles match in two years after knee, foot and wrist injuries.

Other men’s players starting their year in Brisbane include Grigor Dimitrov, Holger Rune, Frances Tiafoe and Matteo Berrettini.

Reigning Australian Open women’s champion and world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka had previously announced she too would start her season at the Queensland Tennis Center.

Three other top-10 players including Jessica Pegula, Emma Navarro and Daria Kasatkina will also play, as will former Brisbane champion Victoria Azarenka.

A host of other players have opted to start their year at the mixed-teams United Cup in Sydney and Perth, including women’s world No. 2 Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff and Jasmine Paolini.

Men’s world No. 2 Alexander Zverev and fourth-ranked Taylor Fritz have also signed up for the United Cup.


Tiger Woods in favor of Americans getting paid at the Ryder Cup as long as it goes to charity

Tiger Woods in favor of Americans getting paid at the Ryder Cup as long as it goes to charity
Updated 04 December 2024
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Tiger Woods in favor of Americans getting paid at the Ryder Cup as long as it goes to charity

Tiger Woods in favor of Americans getting paid at the Ryder Cup as long as it goes to charity
  • Woods: We didn’t want to get paid, we wanted to give more money to charity, and the media turned it around against us and said we want to get paid
  • The $5 million figure came about when Woods was asked if it should be made clear the money would go to charity, which it has for the last 25 years

NASSAU, Bahamas:Tiger Woods dropped a big financial number related to the Ryder Cup that is sure to make headlines, particularly in Europe.

“I hope they would get $5 million each and donate it all to charity, different charities,” Woods said Tuesday at the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas. “I think it’s great. What’s wrong with that?”

The source of the topic was a report last month on the PGA of America considering a proposal to pay American players $400,000 at the Ryder Cup, an amount that was a mystery to the executive level at the PGA of America, which still doesn’t have a CEO.

Woods is well-versed on the topic, which dates to 1999 when Woods, David Duval and Mark O’Meara were among those questioning how much money the PGA of America was making off the Ryder Cup. That resulted in $200,000 for each player, half to a charity of their choice and the other half to a golf management program at their university.

“We didn’t want to get paid, we wanted to give more money to charity, and the media turned it around against us and said we want to get paid,” Woods said. “No. The Ryder Cup itself makes so much money, why can’t we allocate it to various charities? And what’s wrong with each player, 12 players getting $1 million and the ability to divvy out to amazing charities that they’re involved in that they can help out?”

The $5 million figure came about when Woods was asked if it should be made clear the money would go to charity, which it has for the last 25 years.

The issue is money coming in and where it goes, and it’s different for each team. The European tour is the lead partner in Ryder Cup Europe, and money from the matches in Europe is crucial in funding the tour. The PGA of America — not the PGA Tour — runs the matches in the US. The PGA of America gives the tour 20 percent of the television deal.

Rory McIlroy was among European players who, when asked about the report, said they would pay to play in the Ryder Cup.

“If the Europeans want to pay to be in the Ryder Cup, that’s their decision to do that, that’s their team,” Woods said. “I know when it’s on European soil that it subsidizes most of their tour, so it is a big event for the European tour and if they want to pay to play in it, so be it.”

Masters stretch run

Nicolai Hojgaard at No. 58 in the world ranking, Mackenzie Hughes (No. 57) and Thomas Detry (No. 61) are among those playing in South Africa at the Nedbank Golf Challenge.

At stake is finishing the year in the top 50 to qualify for the Masters, and time is running out. The Nedbank Challenge is followed by the Alfred Dunhill Championship in South Africa, and golf concludes with the Mauritius Open.

On the bubble are Min Woo Lee (No. 49), Lucas Glover (No. 51) and Stephan Jaeger (No.53), neither of whom are playing this week or are entered next week.

Corey Conners also is playing in South Africa, although at No. 42 he should be safe for the top 50. For those who don’t make it, there is another top 50 cutoff from the world ranking a full week before the Masters.

The field for Augusta National, currently at 75 players expected to play, could add as many as eight players through the world ranking by the end of the year. Still to be determined is whether the Masters offers special invitations. Joaquin Niemann, Thorbjorn Olesen and Ryo Hizatsune received them for the last Masters.

Crypto payoff for LIV against PGA Tour match

The made-for-TV match between PGA Tour and LIV Golf League starts has a title sponsor and a new form of payment.

Crypto.com is the title sponsor of the Dec. 17 match at Shadow Creek just north of Las Vegas that pits Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy against Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka.

The Crypto.com Showdown will be televised across TNT, TBS, truTV and Max, with a commentary crew that includes David Feherty and Charles Barkley. It will be the first broadcast appearance by Feherty outside of LIV since he signed on with the Saudi-funded league.

The 18-hole match will be split among six holes of foursomes, six holes of fourballs and six holes of singles.

As for the payoff? Front Office Sports reports it will be at least $10 million paid for the first time in Cryptocurrency.

Quick study

Nick Dunlap started the year as a sophomore at Alabama. Eleven months later, he is a two-time winner on the PGA Tour and in the Bahamas for the Hero World Challenge hosted by Tiger Woods.

There have been rough patches along the way, especially getting used to the travel, the cuts and courses he had never seen. But he proved to be a quick study, and he gave credit to Will Zalatoris for a practice round at The Players Championship.

“It wasn’t anything he said — it wasn’t really anything — it was just watching the way he prepared for that golf tournament and strategically where he chipped from, where he putted from, where he hit iron shots to,” Dunlap said. “It was eye opening to me because I never really paid that much attention in practice rounds.”

The rest of the year, Dunlap said he spent pre-tournament week trying to learn the course.

“It may only save you a half a shot or a shot and that could mean the difference at the end of the year,” he said.

On the rebound

Anthony Kim posted rounds of 71-72-73-71 and tied for 37th in the International Series Qatar on the Asian Tour. It was the first time Kim made the cut in any tournament since the 2012 Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill.

Kim walked away from golf two months after Bay Hill that year and didn’t return until he joined Saudi-backed LIV Golf as a wild card this year. LIV is 54 holes with no cut. In the only other 72-hole tournament Kim played this year, he missed the cut in Macau.

Kim made $14,510 in Qatar. He also moved up 2,281 spots in the world ranking to No. 2,314. The 39-year-old American is playing in Saudi International this week on the Asian Tour.

Divots

Hero MotoCorp. in India has extended its title sponsorship of the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas through 2030, along with extending its relationship with Tiger Woods as an ambassador. Woods is the tournament host in the Bahamas. ... Jon Rahm makes his debut in the Dubai Desert Classic next January. Rahm typically spent January in California for The American Express and Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines before going to LIV Golf. ... Claire Welsh of Canada, who previously worked senior roles in player relations for The R&A, is the new tournament director for the CPKC Women’s Open in Canada.

Stat of the week

Japanese amateur Rintaro Nakano had a 25-shot differential between his first and final round at the Australian Open. He started with a 65. He closed with a 90.

Final word

“The players have benefited from it whether you’re on LIV or you’re not on LIV. Love him or hate him, as a golfer, he’s certainly helped our lifestyle.” — Marc Leishman on fellow Aussie Greg Norman, the CEO of Saudi-funded LIV Golf.