Rafael Nadal admitted his fitness level was well off the tour's top players after falling Thursday in straight sets to fellow Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz, who described the exhibition match as "a little bit sad".

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, Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner involved.

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 ATP ranking points and is Saudi Arabia’s latest foray into tennis.