Nadal defeated by Alcaraz in Saudi Arabia as career nears end

RIYADH: 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”.

The 38-year-old Nadal, who announced last week he would retire from tennis after the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga next month, lost 6-3, 6-3 to 21-year-old Alcaraz in the semi-finals of the “Six Kings Slam” event in Saudi Arabia.

Afterwards he described Alcaraz, winner of the French Open and Wimbledon this year, as an “animal” and acknowledged he was not competing at the highest level. “I have not much pressure here. I´m just trying to have fun,” he told a post-match press conference. “I know I´m going to play against players that... are in much better shape than me because they are on the professional tour and winning tournaments.”