Tennis great Rafael Nadal joins Novak Djokovic, Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz in Riyadh; watch all the Six Kings Slam on Sky Sports Tennis, streaming service NOW and the Sky Sports app
Wednesday 16 October 2024 21:02, UK
Rafael Nadal will make one of his last appearances before retiring from competitive action at the Six Kings Slam in Riyadh along with Jannik Sinner, Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz - live on Sky Sports from October 17-19.
The 22-time Grand Slam champion confirmed last week that he would call time on his remarkable tennis career after playing for Spain in next month's Davis Cup Finals in Malaga.
Before that, he will take his place in a lucrative event in Saudi Arabia this week, as he lines up alongside some of the best players in men's tennis.
The Six Kings Slam is an exhibition tennis tournament held across three days and featuring six big-name players.
As it is a non-ATP-sanctioned event, players will not earn any ranking points.
Each of the six participants are guaranteed a reported minimum prize of £1.12m, with the winner taking home the largest prize in tennis history, £4.5m - almost double the prize money for a Grand Slam champion.
The Six Kings Slam tournament takes place from October 16-19, 2024 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
October 16: Jannik Sinner bt Daniil Medvedev 6-0 6-3, Carlos Alcaraz bt Holger Rune 6-4 6-2
October 17: Novak Djokovic vs Jannik Sinner, Rafael Nadal vs Carlos Alcaraz
October 19: Third-place match, final
World No 1 Sinner defeated 2021 US Open winner Medvedev in the opening match, with Dane Rune losing to 21-year-old Spanish sensation Alcaraz in the second match.
Djokovic, the 24-time Grand Slam champion, will now play Sinner, with Nadal facing his Spanish compatriot Alcaraz on Thursday from 5.15pm - live on Sky Sports Tennis.
Alcaraz said of Nadal. "He is still my idol. He is a really important person for my life and career. One of the reasons why I became professional. I don't know if playing him again is a privilege or it's tough for me. But I will try to enjoy it. I'm gonna go full power".
The 38-year-old, who has won 22 Grand Slam titles, including 14 at the French Open, announced his forthcoming retirement in an emotional video message last week.
Nadal will bid an emotional end to an illustrious career in Malaga, but before that he will play at the Six Kings Slam.
It will be the first time Nadal has played since the Paris Olympic Games, where he teamed up with his young heir Alcaraz in a blockbuster doubles pair.
Djokovic and Nadal both had first-round byes, meaning they will play their opening matches on Thursday against Sinner and Alcaraz respectively.
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