Carlos Alcaraz likely just played his tennis idol Rafael Nadal for the last time in their professional careers during Thursday's semifinal match of the Six Kings Slam. Although the score makes it look like Alcaraz ran away with the match at 6-3, 6-3, the 21-year-old admitted he still had to play his best in order to beat the 22-time major champion.

Tennis fans do not care if today's match between Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal does not count in the ATP record books. It was a historic and beautiful ending to one of the sport's friendliest rivalries.

Rafael Nadal, in his first match since announcing he would be retiring after the Davis Cup next month, lost 6-3, 6-3 to Carlos Alcaraz at the Six Kings Slam on Thursday.

Competing for the first time since the Olympic Games, Rafael Nadal faced world no. 2 Carlos Alcaraz in the semi-final of the Six Kings Slam in Riyadh. As was expected, the younger Spaniard scored a 6-3, 6-3 victory in under 80 minutes, arranging the title clash versus world no.

The 38-year-old Nadal, who announced last week he would retire from tennis after the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga in November, lost 6-3, 6-3 to 21-year-old Alcaraz in the semi-finals of the Six Kings Slam event in Saudi Arabia.

During an interview at the ‘Six Kings Slam’, Alcaraz was asked who has a better forehand between him and Nadal: "I am only starting my career, so for now I choose Rafa's. For now, but I am very happy with my forehand as well, so we will see at the end of my career who has the better forehand."

One player was very impacted by Nadal's retirement news—Carlos Alcaraz. The fellow Spaniard has shared throughout the start of his promising career how big of an inspiration and role model Nadal has been for him in his life. Alcaraz met Nadal at a very young age and even got to play doubles in the 2024 Paris Olympics with him.

Carlos Alcaraz will try to enjoy facing “idol” Rafael Nadal for one last time at an exhibition tennis tournament in Saudi Arabia on Thursday. Alcaraz is in Riyadh for the lucrative 6 Kings Slam, which is not an ATP-sanctioned event but has Nadal,

Carlos Alcaraz will try to enjoy playing against retiring tennis legend Rafael Nadal for one last time at an exhibition tennis tournament in Saudi Arabia on Thursday.