Novak Djokovic makes feelings very clear after beating Rafael Nadal in final meeting

Novak Djokovic has begged to not "leave tennis" after beating him in their final ever meeting.

Nadal has announced he will be after the Davis Cup in November, having struggled with injury problems in recent years. The Spaniard has enjoyed a storied rivalry with over their careers and they faced off for the last time at the Six Kings Slam exhibition event in Saudi Arabia.

Djokovic won the third-place contest 6-2 7-6 (7-5) and paid an emotional tribute to Nadal after the match. "I have the utmost respect for you: incredible athlete, incredible person," Djokovic said.

"The rivalry has been incredible and has been very intense, so I hope that we'll have a chance to maybe sit on the beach somewhere and maybe have a little drink and reflect on life, talking about something else.

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"I will finish with one big thank you, from not just me, but all of the tennis for what you have done. You left an incredible legacy and we really appreciate it. Don't leave tennis man, stay a little bit longer, stay with us."

Nadal has won 22 Grand Slam titles across his legendary career and Djokovic is the only man to have won more than him with 24. "It has been an amazing rivalry," the Spaniard said of Djokovic.

"In a personal way I have to say that you helped me to go over my limits during almost 15 years. So thank you for that because without that probably I will not be the player that I am today. It has been a dream come true to be able to play for almost 20 years being competitive and having the chance to play in the best places in the world."

When he announced his retirement earlier this month, Nadal admitted he has been unable to "play without limitations" for the past two years. "The reality is that it has been some difficult years, the last two especially," he said.

"I don't think I have been able to play without limitations. It is obviously a difficult decision, one that has taken me some time to make. In this life, everything has a beginning and an end. And I think it's the appropriate time to put an end to a career that has been long and much more successful than I could have ever imagined.

"I am very excited that my last tournament will be the final of the Davis Cup representing my country. I think I've come full circle since one of my first great joys as a professional tennis player was the Davis Cup final in Sevilla in 2004."

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