Novak Djokovic claimed bragging rights over long-time rival Rafael Nadal by winning their last head-to-head singles clash at the Six Kings Slam exhibition event in Saudi Arabia.
Nadal announced earlier this month that he will retire from tennis after representing Spain in Malaga in November, with the 38-year-old booking another meeting with Djokovic after losing to compatriot Carlos Alcaraz in the semi-finals.
The two all-time greats have won a combined 46 Grand Slam titles during a lengthy rivalry, with Djokovic coming out on top in their last tight tussle to claim a straight-sets victory and finish the event in third place.
Nadal was broken twice in the opening set but battled back valiantly in the second, surviving a match point and forcing a tie-break before Djokovic closed out a 6-2 7-6 (7-5) victory.
How Djokovic came through last Nadal contest
Nadal lost the opening service game and quickly fell behind to Djokovic, who recovered from being 15-30 down to hold in the next but squandered a break point to move into a 4-1 advantage.Djokovic made amends to take the sixth game and convert a double-break advantage in the next to move further ahead of Nadal, playing in just his second singles match since the Paris Olympics, before holding serve to wrap up the opening set.The Serb broke Nadal early in the second but faced a much tougher test from the retiring Spaniard, who immediately broke back and then held serve to move 2-1 ahead.
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