October 18, (THEWILL) – Rafael Nadal conceded his current fitness falls short of top-tier players following a straight-sets defeat to fellow Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz in an exhibition match. The encounter, which took place on Thursday at the “Six Kings Slam” event in Saudi Arabia, saw Nadal lose 6-3 6-3 in the semi-finals.
Nadal, who recently announced his retirement plans after the upcoming Davis Cup Finals in Malaga, acknowledged the superior form of his younger competitors. The 38-year-old noted that players like Alcaraz, who clinched both the French Open and Wimbledon titles this year, are in peak condition due to their active participation on the professional tour.
The match atmosphere was tinged with sentiment, as Alcaraz described the experience as “a little bit sad”. Despite his competitive drive, the 21-year-old expressed awareness of Nadal’s legendary status and the crowd’s overwhelming support for the 22-time Grand Slam champion. The younger Spaniard emphasised the importance of allowing Nadal to enjoy the spotlight during this twilight phase of his career.
Looking ahead, Nadal is set to face long-time rival Novak Djokovic on Saturday in the third-place playoff. This matchup follows Djokovic’s narrow defeat to Jannik Sinner, the reigning Australian Open and US Open champion. Nadal views this upcoming clash with Djokovic as a “nostalgic” encounter, given their extensive history of competition.
Regarding his participation in the Davis Cup Finals, Nadal remains uncertain about his physical readiness. While he asserts his emotional preparedness, he acknowledges the need for further physical and tennis-specific training in the coming month. Nadal has indicated his willingness to be transparent about his ability to compete effectively in singles matches during the tournament.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
