Hyderabad: Novak Djokovic, a 24-time Grand Slam champion, paid tribute to his rival and friend Rafael Nadal in an emotional and heartfelt exchange following the two great rivals' probably the final match against each other on Saturday at the Six Kings Slam exhibition event in Saudi Arabia.
Djokovic thanked Nadal for his impact and contribution on the sport and praised the Spaniard's legacy. "It's been an incredible honor and an incredible pleasure to share the court with you. It's been quite an emotional moment today, we've been playing a lot of games over so many years," Djokovic said.
Djokovic shared a great Nadal camaraderie, marking it as one of the most famous rivalries in tennis history. Following their final dance at the Six Kings Slam, the 37-year-old reflected on the intensity of their battles and expressed a desire to remain close off the court. "The rivalry has been incredible and very intense. I hope that we'll have a chance to maybe sit on a beach somewhere, have a little drink, reflecting on life, talking about something else. Thank you for what you have done, you leave an incredible legacy, and we really appreciate it," he added.