Carlos Alcaraz sends emotional message to Rafael Nadal after final match

Carlos Alcaraz sent an emotional message to Rafael Nadal after beating him in their final singles match on October 17, Thursday. Nadal will retire from tennis after the Davis Cup.

In Short

• Alcaraz defeated Nadal 6-3, 6-3
• Alcaraz claimed that Nadal has been an inspiration to the younger generation
• Nadal and Alcaraz will team up for Spain in the Davis Cup

Carlos Alcaraz sent an emotional message to Rafael Nadal after beating the former World No.1 in the semifinals of the Six Kings Slam exhibition tournament on October 17, Thursday. Alcaraz defeated Nadal in straight sets to win the encounter 6-3 6-3 to progress to the final and set up a match with Jannik Sinner.

After the match was done, Alcaraz took to Instagram to send a message to Nadal. The Spaniard it was a privilege to play the former World No.1 for the final time and thanked him for being an inspiration the younger generation.

Alcaraz ended the message by saying he would see him very soon in Malaga, where the Davis Cup finals will take place. The tournament will serve as the final outing for Nadal, who announced his retirement earlier in the month.

"It was a privilege to play against Rafa one last time! Once again, thank you for your legacy and for being an inspiration to all of us! See you very soon in Malaga, but this time both wearing the colours of Spain," said Alcaraz.

How did Alcaraz vs Nadal unfold?

Rafael Nadal earned plenty of respect from the Riyadh crowd despite his 6-3, 6-3 loss, with the spectators giving him a warm ovation as he left the court. The defeat sets up a much-anticipated showdown with Novak Djokovic in a third-place play-off on Saturday, reigniting one of tennis' greatest rivalries.

Carlos Alcaraz wasted no time asserting his dominance, breaking Nadal to love in the very first game. While Nadal regained his footing and kept the first set competitive, Alcaraz seized a crucial advantage, winning a marathon game with four deuces on Nadal's serve to secure the opener.

Nadal, a 22-time Grand Slam champion, came out strong in the second set, holding serve to love. However, Alcaraz quickly regained control, breaking Nadal with a stunning forehand down the line. Though Nadal offered flashes of brilliance, including a masterful backhand at the net, Alcaraz held his ground, completing a commanding victory in just 78 minutes.

After the match, Nadal admitted that he would be open to advising Alcaraz in the future.