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.

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."

The hype surrounding the Rafael Nadal vs Carlos Alcaraz match at 6 Kings Slam was justified, as many across the world logged onto X to watch it.

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.

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.

At the Laver Cup last month, Carlos Alcaraz complained that the tennis schedule is "going to kill us". But this week the Spaniard, who has only played two ATP events since the US Open, is playing the £11.5m Six Kings Slam in Saudi Arabia where Rafa Nadal and Novak Djokovic are also competing for the £4.6m first prize.

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.

Rafael Nadal starts his pre-retirement farewell tour against Carlos Alcaraz on Thursday at the Six Kings Slam, and Novak Djokovic faces Jannik Sinner at the exhibition event that awards money but no A

Carlos Alcaraz admitted Wednesday it will be a "difficult moment" facing "idol" Rafael Nadal when the Spanish superstars clash for the final time.