RIYADH, Oct. 18 (Xinhua) -- In the semifinals of the Saudi "Six Kings Slam" exhibition tennis tournament on Thursday night, Carlos Alcaraz defeated his Spanish compatriot Rafael Nadal in straight sets, while Jannik Sinner triumphed in a three-set battle against Novak Djokovic.
This match marked Nadal's first competitive appearance since announcing his upcoming retirement, drawing significant attention, especially given the clash with rising Spanish star Alcaraz.
Alcaraz showed exceptional form, breaking Nadal's serve early. With another break at the end of the set, Alcaraz took the first set 6-3. Despite overwhelming support from the crowd for the veteran Nadal, Alcaraz maintained his momentum, winning the second set 6-3 and securing the victory in this all-Spanish "derby."
After the match, Nadal praised Alcaraz's performance, saying, "He's been playing fantastic the last few years, getting better and better. I think I tried. I haven't been on the competitive stage for months. I think it was a good performance, but it wasn't enough to play against 'an animal' like him."
Reflecting on his retirement, Nadal expressed gratitude to his fans, stating, "I really feel very fortunate. I had a very long and successful career and the support and the love all around the world."
In the other semifinal, Italy's Sinner faced Serbia's Djokovic just four days after their encounter in the Shanghai Masters final.
Sinner started strong, taking the first set 6-2. The second set was fiercely contested, with Djokovic securing an early break, only for Sinner to break back in the fourth game. The set progressed to a tiebreak, where Djokovic dominated, winning 7-6(0) without dropping a point. The battle continued into the third set, with both players exchanging breaks early. They held serve until 4-4 when Sinner achieved a crucial break in the ninth game and closed out the match 6-4 in the final set.
The final between Alcaraz and Sinner will take place on Saturday, marking their second encounter following the China Open final earlier this month. On the same day, Nadal and Djokovic will compete for third place, offering another star-studded showdown.
The "Six Kings Slam" exhibition tennis tournament, held on October 16, 17, and 19, is a highlight of Saudi Arabia's "Riyadh Season" this year. Six renowned tennis players are competing in the tournament, with the winner set to take home a grand prize of 6 million U.S. dollars. ■