Rafael Nadal offers wisdom to the competitive world of tennis. As he gears up for his second-to-last tournament at the Six Kings Slam, he reflects on a career marked by fierce rivalries. Whether it was ‘Fedal’ taking shots at each other since 2004, or the nearly 60 clashes between him and Novak Djokovic. It’s all water under the bridge, as he is on the cusp of hanging up his racquet. Rafa reassures fans that there are “many more important things outside of tennis.”

During an interview with DAZN Sport, when asked how he maintains such intense rivalries on the court while fostering friendships off it, Nadal responded with warmth and sincerity. “Of course, with Roger, it has been special, but with Novak too, I have a good relationship,” he stated. “It’s the way that you approach the sport. 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.”

As Nadal will be ending his 23-year journey in tennis, he knows a thing or two about maintaining connections in the sport. “At the end of the day, if you have a good relationship with the colleagues, with the people who are next to you or with the people in general, without a doubt, in my experience, you will be happier. So at the end, tennis is only a game, relationships go beyond that,” he continued.

When Nadal’s retirement announcement dropped on social media, Federer and Novak were among the many top players to say a few words to him. Taking to Instagram, Federer expressed his sadness for never hoping to see the day his rival retires. He also paid tribute to their achievements and unforgettable memories on the court. On the other hand, Djokovic thanked Rafael for always pushing him “to the very limit so many times” on the court.

As Rafael Nadal prepares for the inaugural Six Kings Slam in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia-the emotional weight of this moment is palpable. Both Nadal and Djokovic have received direct entry into the semifinals. This means they only need to win one match to potentially face each other in the final. Other notable participants in Riyadh Carlos Alcaraz, Daniil Medvedev, Jannik Sinner, and Holger Rune, the competition promises to be fierce.

However, as Nadal emphasized on the importance of mutual respect and shared experiences among players, one can’t help but wonder how the last of the legendary Big Three, Novak Djokovic, feels about not playing against his rival again.

Novak Djokovic confesses to not being done with tennis just yet

In an interview with Corriere Della Sera on October 15, Novak expressed feelings of uncertainty regarding his future in tennis following Rafael Nadal’s retirement announcement. However, he also acknowledged the emotional impact of losing his longtime rivals, stating, “I have always respected and greatly admired him… We have never been friends. Between rivals, it is not possible, but we have never been enemies.” Following that, Nole has also admitted that with Nadal retiring, he does feel like “a big part” of him is leaving too.

While the youngest of the three is next in line, he still has plenty of fire left in him. After his big win at the Paris Olympics, the current No. 4 ranked player showed up the Shanghai Masters with a dream to clinch the coveted 100th title. Although that fell through as he faced Jannik Sinner in the finals. In a candid conversation with Sportal, he admitted that seeing how the new generation of tennis players are so passionate in their rivalries, he’s a bit over it. Especially with Nadal leaving.

While he has not disclosed if he will throw in the towel just yet, he stated that he would love to focus on his interests once he retires. From music to sports science and even business, Nole looks forward to it all. But like Nadal said, at the end of the day, what matters most is the connections you made along the way. Surely, Novak will be pushing through and making the most of his time on court. And fans can get a glimpse of that at the upcoming Six Kings Slam!