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It seems fitting that Rafael Nadal was presented with a solid gold tennis racket, complete with golden strings, after he played the final singles match of his remarkable career.

Fittingly, he faced his biggest rival Novak Djokovic in the Six Kings Slam exhibition in Riyadh, where the famous duo shared a final few moments on the court.

The great rivals played a record 60 competitive matches over their careers, with Djokovic leading 31-29, but there will be no more as Nadal announced his retirement following the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga next month.

Speaking on court to Djokovic, he said: “It has been an amazing rivalry. In a personal way, I have to say that you helped me to go over my limits during almost 15 years. So thank you for that because without that probably I would not be the player that I am today.”

Djokovic on the other hand said, “It has been a dream come true to be able to play for almost 20 years being competitive and having the chance to play in the best places in the world. I have the utmost respect for you: incredible athlete, incredible person,”

“The rivalry has been incredible and has been very intense, so I hope that we’ll have a chance to maybe sit on the beach somewhere and maybe have a little drink and reflect on life, talking about something else.”

The Saudi hosts of the Six Kings Slam then handed Nadal his solid gold racket, complete with golden strings, and estimated to be worth $ 10 million.

 

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When asked what he will miss about tennis, Nadal gave an answer that summed up what the sport has meant to him.