RIYADH: Rafael Nadal admitted his fitness level was well off the tour’s top players after falling on Thursday in straight sets to fellow Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz, who described the exhibition match as “a little bit sad”.

The 38-year-old Nadal, who announced last week he would retire from tennis after the Davis Cup Fin­als in Malaga next mo­nth, lost 6-3, 6-3 to 21-year-old Alcaraz in the semi-finals of the “Six Kings Slam” event in Saudi Arabia.

Afterwards he descri­b­ed Alcaraz, winner of the French Open and Wimbl­edon this year, as an “animal” and acknowledged he was not competing at the highest level.

“I have not much pressure here. I’m just trying to have fun,” he told a post-match press conference.

“I know I’m going to play against players that... are in much better shape than me because they are on the professional tour and winning tournaments.”

Alcaraz said he knew the Saudi crowd was against him but wanted to let Nad­al, winner of 22 Sla­ms including 14 French Open titles, bask in the support.

“It’s a little bit sad... It was not a really comfortable moment for me. Obvi­ously I really wanted to win,” said Alcaraz.

“Once you step on the court it’s no friends, no idols” but “I think this is his moment right now.

Prior to Thursday’s match Nadal had made his last singles appearance at the Olympic Games where his campaign was cut short by old rival Novak Djokovic.

Nadal might team-up with Alcaraz at the Davis Cup Finals.

Nadal will play Djokovic again on Saturday after the Serbian great lost a much tighter match to Jannik Sinner, who won 6-2, 6-7(0/7), 6-4 and will take on Alcaraz in the final.

“Having Novak in front, it’s like a nostalgic thing,” Nadal said, looking ahead to their battle for third pla­ce in the Saudi exhibition.

“We faced each other plenty of times, so it’s going to be good fun to play each other again one more time in this match.”

As for the Davis Cup Finals next month, Nadal said he was unclear what his form would be.

“Emotionally I’m sure I will be ready. In terms of physically, in terms of tennis level, I mean (there) rem­ains a month to prepare.” He also said that he would spe­ak up if he thought he could not compete well in singles.

Published in Dawn, October 19th, 2024