Tennis
'He's always been pushing me!' - Rafael Nadal reflects on Novak Djokovic rivalry before Six Kings Slam
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Rafael Nadal believes his rivalry with Novak Djokovic has helped him find his limits as a professional player as he prepares to bow out of tennis at the end of the year.
Both men are in Saudi Arabia for Riyadh Season's Six Kings Slam, live on DAZN, and will take to the court starting Thursday for the exhibition tournament.
If both men win - or lose - their respective last four clashes, then they will have the chance to face off one more time in either Saturday's final or third-place match.
- Read more | 'It is a new generation' - Ahead of Six Kings Slam, Rafael Nadal prepares to pass the torch for good
Ahead of his opening game, Nadal joked that there is no urgency for the two to meet again on the court, but paid tribute to the Serbian for their professional bond.
"We've played plenty of times!" he told DAZN. "We don't need to play again! But [I'm] happy always [to face him]. It's a big challenge, [he's] a great rival.
"He's a player that has always been pushing me at the highest level, to the limits. I think that's the same feeling that we have between each other now.
"Both of us, and Roger [Federer] too, we push ourselves to the next level because we need to be all the time improving in order to keep competing at the level we need.
"That is the beautiful thing [about] sport. I have always the clear goal and determination to be better and better and better.
"Having big opponents in front, that gives you, I think, a clearer perspective about how you have to get this done."
Djokovic is coming off a year where he failed to add to his record-breaking haul of grand slams, but is nevertheless anticipated to make the 2024 ATP Tour Finals.
Nadal meanwhile will retire after November's Davis Cup Finals, where Spain will face the Netherlands in the first round.
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