'Don't leave tennis', Djokovic tells Nadal after 'amazing rivalry'
The Peninsula
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: Novak Djokovic implored long time adversary Rafael Nadal to put off his planned retirement after defeating the Spaniard Saturday...
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: Novak Djokovic implored long-time adversary Rafael Nadal to put off his planned retirement after defeating the Spaniard Saturday in what was likely to be the final chapter of their "amazing rivalry".
"Don't leave tennis, man," Djokovic said in an on-court interview after beating Nadal in straight sets 6-2, 7-6 (7/5) at the "Six Kings Slam" exhibition in Saudi Arabia.
He added that their battles over the years had been "very intense" and told Nadal he hoped they could one day "sit on a beach somewhere" and have a drink.
Nadal, 38, announced on October 10 that he would retire from tennis after the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga next month.
Organisers of the Saudi event billed Saturday's match as perhaps Nadal's last singles contest as a professional.