RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — With a watch on the Davis Cup, Rafael Nadal stated he was happy along with his efficiency regardless of shedding 6-3, 6-3 to Carlos Alcaraz on the Six Kings Slam on Thursday.
Jannik Sinner beat Novak Djokovic 6-2, 6-7 (0), 6-4 within the different semifinal on the exhibition occasion that awards cash however no ATP rating factors and is Saudi Arabia’s newest foray into tennis.
The match in opposition to Alcaraz was Nadal’s first since he introduced final week that he could be retiring after taking part in for Spain within the Davis Cup subsequent month. Nadal and Alcaraz performed doubles collectively on the Paris Video games and will workforce up once more for the Davis Cup.
“I’ve the Davis Cup in entrance (of me) in a month so every single day is a chance to be higher and higher and be prepared for this last event of my tennis profession,” Nadal stated. “I need to strive my greatest to be prepared for that and assist the workforce in a roundabout way.”
Thursday’s match was the primary contest for Nadal since his exit on the Paris Olympics in July.
“Carlos was too good. I have never been on the aggressive stage since a pair months in the past,” Nadal stated. “So yeah, I feel it was a superb efficiency, even when it was not sufficient to play in opposition to an animal like him. However it was a optimistic match for me and I am joyful.”
Nadal will play Djokovic on Saturday in a third-place match earlier than Sinner faces Alcaraz.
The highest-ranked Sinner was cleared in a doping case shortly earlier than successful final month’s US Open, though the World Anti-Doping Company has appealed that exoneration.
Djokovic and Sinner met for actual Sunday, when the Italian received in straight units for the Shanghai Masters title.