RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) – Rafael Nadal begins his pre-retirement farewell tour against Carlos Alcaraz on Thursday at the Six Kings Slam, while Novak Djokovic faces Jannik Sinner in an exhibition event. Though no ATP ranking points are awarded, the matches offer significant prize money and represent Saudi Arabia’s latest venture into tennis.

Saudi Arabia’s Growing Presence in Tennis

Riyadh is also set to host the WTA Finals next month, kicking off a three-year agreement as part of the kingdom’s continued investment in various sports. However, this has sparked concerns regarding LGBTQ+ rights and women’s rights, raised by tennis legends like Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova.

Wednesday’s Six Kings Slam Matches

On Wednesday, the top-ranked Jannik Sinner, who recently triumphed at the U.S. Open, dominated Daniil Medvedev 6-0, 6-3. Carlos Alcaraz also advanced, defeating Holger Rune 6-4, 6-2.

Both Rafael Nadal, an ambassador for the Saudi Tennis Federation, and Novak Djokovic were given byes into the semifinals.

Nadal’s Return Against Alcaraz

Nadal’s matchup against Alcaraz marks his first match since his exit at the Paris Olympics in July. It is also his first contest since announcing his plans to retire after playing for Spain in the Davis Cup next month. Nadal and Alcaraz previously played doubles together at the Paris Games and could team up again for the Davis Cup.

Looking ahead to Thursday’s match, Alcaraz expressed his admiration for Nadal, calling him a “legend” and “a really important person for my life, for my career.”

Djokovic vs. Sinner: A Rivalry Renewed

Djokovic and Sinner recently faced off on Sunday at the Shanghai Masters, where Sinner won in straight sets to claim the trophy.

What’s Next?

After a rest day on Friday, the winners of Thursday’s two semifinals will meet in the event’s final on Saturday.

• Rafael Nadal, 38, holds 22 Grand Slam titles.
• Novak Djokovic, 37, boasts 24 Grand Slam titles, the most in the Open Era.
• Jannik Sinner captured his first two Grand Slam titles in 2024.
• Carlos Alcaraz won two other men’s majors this season, bringing his total to four.

Daniil Medvedev won the 2021 U.S. Open, while Holger Rune is the only player in the field without a Grand Slam title or a No. 1 ranking.