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Alcaraz Defeats Nadal in Riyadh Season’s “Six Kings Slam” as Retirement Looms

Rafael Nadal admitted his fitness is far from the tour’s best after losing to Carlos Alcaraz on Thursday. The 21-year-old Alcaraz defeated the 38-year-old Nadal 6-3, 6-3 in the “Six Kings Slam” semi-finals in Saudi Arabia. Nadal, who plans to retire after the Davis Cup Finals next month, acknowledged Alcaraz’s dominance.

Nadal Reflects on His Form

Nadal praised Alcaraz, calling him an “animal” and admitting he is not at his peak level. He stated that he has little pressure in these matches, focusing on having fun instead. “I know I’ll face players in better shape who are winning tournaments,” he said during a press conference.

Alcaraz Embraces the Moment

Alcaraz, despite facing a crowd that supported Nadal, wanted to respect the tennis legend’s moment. “It was a bit sad… not comfortable for me, but I wanted to win,” he said. He emphasized that once on the court, there are “no friends, no idols.”

Before Thursday’s match, Nadal last played singles at the Paris Olympics, losing to Novak Djokovic in the second round. He also partnered with Alcaraz in doubles and might do so again at the Davis Cup Finals.

Upcoming Clash with Djokovic

Nadal will face Djokovic again on Saturday, after the Serbian lost a close match to Jannik Sinner. Sinner, the Australian Open and US Open champion, won 6-2, 6-7 (0/7), 6-4, and will compete against Alcaraz in the final. Nadal expressed excitement about the upcoming match, describing it as nostalgic.

Nadal remains unsure of his form for the Davis Cup Finals. “Emotionally, I will be ready, but I need time to prepare physically,” he said. He added that he would step back if he felt unprepared for singles competition.

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