Tennis courts are known for their fierce rivalries, but they also foster some truly special bonds. Some of these friendships are so solid that they transcend the heat of competition and carry over into off-court life. One perfect example of this was witnessed recently at the Six Kings Slam in Riyadh. And guess who took center stage? None other than the legendary duo—Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic!

The Spanish tennis sensation and the Serbian Maestro are gearing up to face each other probably for one final time. The legends who have played 60 matches together will now be witnessed playing an exhibition match in Riyadh. But besides their match which is due on Saturday, what is capturing the eyeballs of the tennis community is the never-seen-before friendship developing off the courts. 

In a video that is going viral on the internet, Nole and Rafa were seen at an off-court event in Riyadh. In the video, Djokovic, dressed in black attire, can be seen making some hand gestures as he invites his Spanish counterpart to join him on the dance floor. On the other hand, Nadal, who was with his 2-year-old son, was gently refusing the Serb. However, Djokovic eventually convinced him to do the unexpected, and the two were soon witnessed moving towards the stage. Remember, Djokovic and Nadal have often highlighted contrasting actions when it comes to dance. 

Novak Djokovic has often depicted his dance moves. A similar situation was witnessed after the star player won the Paris Olympics as well. After reaching Serbia, the 37-year-old flaunted his dance moves as he was enjoying a grand reception. On the contrary, Nadal is not a party animal. There have been very few instances when Rafa has been seen showing some moves. Djokovic had to attempt a lot to get Nadal, who he played against the first time in 2006, to the dance floor. The latest gesture between the two, meanwhile, comes in the backdrop of some lovely remarks about their friendship from Nadal.

The Spanish legend engaged in an interaction with DAZN and cleared the air about his relationship with Djokovic. “Of course with Roger it has been special but with Novak too, I have a good relationship,” he shared. “I think that’s possible because at the end, we understand that it’s only a game. In life, we have many more important things outside of tennis. So at the end, tennis is only a game, relationships go beyond that,” Rafael Nadal added. And despite highlighting some animosity in the past, Djokovic too, has depicted high regard for his arch-rival. 

When Novak Djokovic paid a sensational tribute to Rafael Nadal

Novak Djokovic has witnessed widespread criticism in the past for his remarks against Nadal. In an interview with Corriere Della Sera, the Serbian highlighted how difficult it is for him to build a friendship with the Spaniard. “Even with him, friendship is impossible,” Nole said in the interview. But a completely different picture was witnessed when Rafael Nadal took to social media to announce his retirement. 

Nadal will hang up his racquets soon after the Davis Cup Finals. The decision lead to people highlighting Rafa’s immense contribution to the game and Djokovic was no different. Paying a tribute to him, the Serb took to his Instagram to share several pictures with Nadal and wrote, “Rafa, one post is not enough to express the respect I have for you and what you have done for our sport.” Continuing further, he added, “Your tenacity, dedication, (and) fighting spirit, is going to be taught for decades. Your legacy will live forever…. Thank you for pushing me to the very limit so many times in our rivalry that has impacted me the most as a player.”

As the two meet once again on the courts, it would be interesting to see if their final battle turns out to be as fierce as ever. Will Nadal force Djokovic to push his limits again? What do you think?