"Can't ask for more"- Holger Rune cherishes being with Rafael Nadal during one of Spaniard's final practice sessions as a pro ahead of Six Kings Slam

Holger Rune and Rafael Nadal shared a practice session ahead of their appearance at the inaugural Six Kings Slam exhibition in Riyadh. The exhibition event is one of the final times the Spaniard would be seen in action as he is set to hang up his racket after the 2024 Davis Cup Finals.

Though he had previously suggested that 2024 might be his final year on the tour, on October 10, Nadal broke the hearts of fans all around the world when he confirmed his retirement.

The 38-year-old was riddled with injuries for the past couple of seasons and didn't have a consistent run on the tour, barring the European clay swing. However, the swing didn't go as planned for the 22-time Major champion as he couldn't manage to have a deep run and also faced a first-round exit at the French Open.

The former World No. 1 was last seen in action at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where he faced an early exit in singles and reached the quarterfinals in doubles.

On the other hand, Holger Rune has struggled with form this year, having won no titles so far and sporting a 38-21 win/loss record. He was last seen in action at the Asian swing, where his best result was a semifinal run at the Japan Open.

Both men have landed in Riyadh ahead of the Six Kings Slam exhibition. After one one of Nadal's final practice sessions as an active professional, Rune shared an image of his team and the Spaniard's on his social media.

"Can’t ask for much more today great practice @RiyadhSeason @RafaelNadal," Rune tweeted.

The Six Kings Slam exhibition is set to be held from October 16 to October 19 and will also feature Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, and Daniil Medvedev.

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Rafael Nadal will face the winner of Holger Rune vs Carlos Alcaraz in the semifinals of the Six Kings Slam

Rafael Nadal (Photo: Getty)

Rafael Nadal has received a bye in the opening round of the Six Kings Slam. He will face the winner of Carlos Alcaraz vs Holger Rune in the semifinals on October 17. On the other hand, Novak Djokovic has also received a bye into the semifinal and will face the winner of Jannik Sinner vs Daniil Medvedev.

After a day's rest on October 18, the final will be held on October 19. There will also be a match between the two losing semifinalists to determine the third place.

With the 14-time Roland Garros champion set to retire soon, a potential final meeting between him and Djokovic could be possible in the summit clash of the exhibition event.