Alcaraz Sets Up Thrilling Nadal Clash With Dominant Win Over Rune At Six Kings Slam

Carlos Alcaraz is set to face his idol, Rafael Nadal, one last time in his tennis career after defeating Holger Rune in the quarter-finals of the 2024 Six Kings Slam, held as part of the Riyadh Season. This exhibition tournament, featuring handpicked matchups, has delivered thrilling contests, including this much-anticipated meeting between Spain’s current tennis sensation and one of its all-time greats.

In the tournament’s semi-final draw, organizers strategically placed Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal as the top seeds, ensuring enticing matches. Djokovic is slated to face the winner of the Jannik Sinner versus Daniil Medvedev contest, while Nadal’s opponent would be either Alcaraz or Rune, depending on the outcome of their match.

Alcaraz, currently ranked World No. 1, not only secured his spot in the semi-finals but also set up another exciting showdown with Djokovic—this time a rematch of both their Australian Open clash earlier this year and the recent Shanghai Masters final, where Djokovic triumphed.

On the opposite side of the draw, Alcaraz earned a highly anticipated encounter with Nadal by defeating Rune in a dominant fashion. Alcaraz, who had recently shared the court with Nadal during the Paris Olympics, looked sharp throughout the match. He faced no break points and capitalized on his opportunities efficiently. Although he had a chance to break early in the first game, he eventually secured a crucial break in the ninth game after Rune suffered a fall, winning the first set 6-4.

The second set saw Alcaraz immediately put pressure on Rune, converting a break point in the opening game. He further extended his lead to 5-1, maintaining control and sealing the match 6-4, 6-2, without ever being threatened.

Despite his commanding performance, Alcaraz admitted he found the conditions challenging. “For me, it’s a little bit tricky in these conditions. The ball flies a lot, bounces a lot, but I enjoyed my tennis and every single second on this court,” Alcaraz said in his post-match interview.

When asked to reflect on his 2024 season, the 21-year-old described it as a rollercoaster year filled with major successes but also some disappointments. “It’s been a really good year for me. A little bit of a rollercoaster. Big tournaments that I won this year, but at the same time, there were tournaments where I didn’t play as I wanted.”

Looking ahead to his semi-final clash, Alcaraz spoke emotionally about facing Nadal, who has announced his retirement after the 2024 Davis Cup Final 8 in Malaga, making this exhibition one of his last events. Alcaraz, who has long idolized Nadal, expressed his deep admiration for the 22-time Grand Slam champion: “Since I started playing tennis, I watched his matches. I looked up to him. I grew up watching him. He was my idol, and he is still my idol. He’s a really important person for my life and for my career. He was one of the reasons why I wanted to become a professional tennis player.”

With this semi-final showdown, tennis fans are treated to a historic moment as Alcaraz takes on Nadal for perhaps the final time, marking the passing of the torch between two generations of Spanish tennis greats.