Key points
Welcome to The Tennis Gazette’s live coverage of Carlos Alcaraz’s match with Rafael Nadal at the Six Kings Slam.
Nadal is poised to take on his Spanish compatriot at the exhibition event in Saudi Arabia, in what looks set to be one of his final matches of his career.
Nadal has announced he will retire after representing Spain in the Davis Cup, which is scheduled to take place in November.
Alcaraz has six million reasons not to go easy on his idol though, with the Six Kings Slam boasting the record amount of prize money ever offered for a tennis tournament.
Alcaraz has promised that he will go ‘full power’ against Nadal this evening, and he goes into the game as the heavy favourite.
But Nadal is never a player who can be written off and the whispers are that he has been very impressive in training.
It, therefore, looks set to be a thrilling contest and for all the latest updates stay right here.
Goodbye
That’s all from us tonight but please return tomorrow to The Tennis Gazette, where you will find comprehensive coverage of all the post match comment and reaction.
We are also on social media, where we will be giving more updates.
Alcaraz wins – 6-3, 6-3
There was no upset, but a competitive match all the same. Nadal certainly didn’t look out of place. The pair warmly embraced at the net after the match.
[Link]Alcaraz 5-3, 6-3 Nadal
He has never given up throughout his career and he’s still fighting here too. From 30-30, Nadal takes the next two points and asks the question. Can Alcaraz serve it out?
[Link]Alcaraz 5-2, 6-3 *Nadal
The four time Grand Slam champion is now just a game away from beating his rival.
[Link]Alcaraz* 4-2, 6-3 Nadal
Brilliant hold from Nadal. We even got to see a beaming smile and a raised fist to the crowd. He’s enjoying this, even though he may not be on court too much longer.
[Link]Alcaraz 4-1, 6-3 *Nadal
That was a quick game! If Rafa is to stage a fight back he needs to do so quickly.
[Link]Alcaraz* 3-1, 6-3 Nadal
Well, there’s the break. Alcaraz hit what Pat Cash called a ‘Roger Federer shot’ during that game, as he stepped in and hit a forehand to bring up break point. He then won the game with a powerful backhand. Is that the beginning of the end?
[Link]Alcaraz 2-1, 6-3 *Nadal
Well, Nadal got a sniff there. The veteran managed to get to 30-30 but Alcaraz responded to the danger and took the next two points.
[Link]Alcaraz 1*-1, 6-3 Nadal
A hold to love from Nadal. He’s still up for this fight and he’s going to need to be if he’s to turn this around.
[Link]Alcaraz 1-0*, 6-3 Nadal
A really solid hold again from Alcaraz. There has been no dip in his level.
[Link]Carlos Moya on the first set
Carlos Moya: “Bad start, bad first game then after that Rafa played pretty well. It was an open set. Then Carlos played great, he has come in with a lot of matches lately and wins and confidence. We could feel he was having more rhythm and at the beginning it was tough but then he played quite well.”
[Link]First set Alcaraz, 6-3
Well, that was a really competitive set. Alcaraz has been made to work for this but he breaks again to take the first set. If Nadal wins from here it would truly be spectacular.
[Link]Alcaraz 5-3* Nadal
Carlos is only a game away from taking the first set. That game contained arguably the shot of the match so far from Alcaraz. A sizzling forehand!
[Link]Alcaraz 4*-3 Nadal
Another good service game from Rafa. If he can compete like this with Alcaraz, maybe we should all ask him to reconsider that retirement!
[Link]Alcaraz 4-2* Nadal
A comfortable hold from Alcaraz. Not too much of note to report in that game, aside from one brilliant Alcaraz forehand.
[Link]Alcaraz 3*-2 Nadal
Another hold of serve from Nadal, who showed some very impressive volleying skills. A rusty start but he is showing he can still really play here!
[Link]3-1 Alcaraz
That was a really competitive game. Rafa seems to have settled. But Alcaraz manages to maintain his advantage.
[Link]Rafa on the board!
Rafa holds to love. Alcaraz can’t be too familiar with having the crowd all cheering against him, but that was a roar. 2-1 Alcaraz.
[Link]A worrying start
If you’re a Rafa fan, that was not what you would have wanted to see. Alcaraz breaks and wins the first game to love.
[Link]Underway
We are off. Rafael Nadal serves first and it’s a stunning first point. Alcaraz takes it with a brilliant forehand down the line.
[Link]Rafa’s family in attendance
Well, that’s pretty sweet! Rafa’s son, wife and father are all in attendance tonight, right in the front row.
[Link]Pat Cash preview
Pat Cash to Sky Sports: “It is definitely a strange situation but he’s a professional player. I think Rafa will be quite nervous. Let’s hope he gets off to a good start and gets his feet settled as we want to see some fantastic ground strokes from Rafa. Let’s hope he gets off to a good start. If he does, I think it could be pretty spectacular.”
[Link]Nadal’s new outfit
Rafa’s new outfit is earning plenty of praise and we agree, it looks pretty cool! He’s going out on style
Here we go!
After the longest introduction in all of tennis Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz are both out on court. Here we go! Get the popcorn and settle in for a thriller!
[Link]
Neymar in attendance
The Brazilian superstar is in the crowd for the Alcaraz vs Nadal match. He was just introduced and was roundly jeered, mind. We are assuming that there aren’t too many Al-Hilal fans in attendance…
[Link]Jannik Sinner wins
What a match! Jannik Sinner takes the final set 6-4. Just post match interviews to do now, and then Nadal vs Alcaraz will begin.
[Link]Sinner closing in
Jannik Sinner is about to serve for the match against Novak Djokovic. Nadal’s return to a tennis court could be just minutes away…
[Link]Djokovic magic!
Honestly, that is incredible from Novak. He was broken by Sinner, who looked to be closing in on victory, but then played an absolutely sensational point to break back. 4-4. Deciding set.
[Link]Novak Djokovic vs Jannik Sinner update
We are now at 3-3 in the third set. Sinner has just saved two break points to hold serve. Alcaraz and Nadal are being forced to wait…
[Link]
Start time update
We are looking at a later start now, as Novak Djokovic has just taken the second set against Jannik Sinner in a tie-break.
[Link]Rules check
For those of you who haven’t watched any of the Six Kings Slam so far, tonight’s game will be contested over the best of three sets. There is a deciding set tie-break if it does get that far.
[Link]Rafael Nadal vs Carlos Alcaraz
Tonight’s match is scheduled to start after Novak Djokovic vs Jannik Sinner, which the Italian currently leads by one set to love.
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