Gigi Salmon’s column: Rafael Nadal’s Six Kings Slam farewell and Danielle Collins’ U-turn | Tennis Information

In her newest Sky Sports activities column, Gigi Salmon seems again on the Six Kings Slam in Saudi Arabia whereas making an attempt to choose her favorite Rafael Nadal second. She additionally discusses Danielle Collins’ shock U-turn and appears forward to the WTA Finals.

The conversations will proceed round exhibitions and whether or not they need to be allowed through the season, the place they need to or shouldn’t be staged and the cash that is on provide, which on this case was an eye-watering $6m for the winner, and so they need to. I am certain I’ll come again to this matter.

For now, although, I wish to discuss what we noticed and as a fan of this sport. It was an absolute pleasure to have the ability to watch Rafa Nadal take to the singles courtroom for fairly presumably and greater than possible the final time, barring a singles choice for Spain within the Davis Cup finals subsequent month.

It was a pleasure to see Nadal come up in opposition to Novak Djokovic for an unofficial 61st [and last] assembly, after which to spherical issues off by watching Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz – the most effective two gamers on this planet face one another.

Nadal’s greatest battle over his profession has been together with his physique, and whereas not anticipating a lot from him, there have been flashes of brilliance.

As an envoy for the Saudi Tennis Federation, Nadal, in no matter bodily state, was going to participate within the Six Kings Slam and there are numerous who’re glad he did.

Alcaraz went simple on him within the semi-finals and the identical might be mentioned for Djokovic as one of many best rivalries this sport has seen performed out.

Pat Money, Liam Broady and I had been requested through the week for our favorite Nadal second to go on social media, which is barely unfair as there are such a lot of, and whereas the 2008 Wimbledon ultimate jumped out because it does for lots of people, I went for Roland Garros.

Firstly as a result of profitable it 14 instances is definitely one thing we cannot see once more and, secondly, profitable his 14th with ‘no feeling’ in his left foot is outrageous!

Speaking about Nadal, Djokovic mentioned: “He has been my greatest rival and my rivalry with him has impacted me the most in my career by far.”

That confirmed us that Djokovic nonetheless has much more to supply, his starvation stays and with extra matches, he will certainly discover the extent wanted to win his twenty fifth Grand Slam title and his one centesimal ATP tour title.

I believe he might need to attend till the summer time as I am unsure he will probably be including to his 10 Australian Open titles in January, however then once more my document with predictions is fairly terrible!

The principle occasion by no means as soon as had the texture of an exhibition as the 2 greatest gamers on this planet confronted off in opposition to one another for the fourth time this 12 months and for the primary time for the reason that Beijing ultimate that noticed Alcaraz lengthen his lead over Sinner to 3-0 in 2024.

A rivalry that’s constructing properly, good associates off the courtroom, and nice adversaries on it who deliver out the most effective in one another.

Sinner, the confirmed year-end No 1, can be topped the $6 million man, coming from a set right down to beat Alcaraz, and whereas it was an exhibition, you’re feeling psychologically it was essential for Sinner to get the win – with some vital matches nonetheless to be performed this 12 months.

In order Nadal waits to see if he’ll play for Spain subsequent month earlier than he hangs up his racket, 2024 can also be the 12 months we mentioned goodbye to Andy Murray, Angelique Kerber, Garbine Muguruza, Camila Giorgi and Steve Johnson. Dominic Thiem can also be enjoying his final occasion this week in Vienna, whereas Diego Schwartzman and Richard Gasquet have introduced that they are going to be retiring through the 2025 season.

Somebody we anticipated to say goodbye to was Danielle Collins, who stunned everybody at first of the 12 months by saying that 2024 can be her final season earlier than happening an absolute tear that included profitable the WTA 1000 in Miami, heading over to Charleston and profitable the title there, reaching the quarter-finals on the Olympics and virtually sneaking into the end-of-year WTA Finals.

Every time she was requested if she would change her thoughts, she mentioned – in no unsure phrases – that she would not, however what is not sure and what we won’t predict is the long run, one through which Collins has spoken of her ‘final dream’ to have a household – a dream which is made all of the tougher by endometriosis which might have an effect on fertility.

“Dealing with endometriosis and fertility is a massive challenge for many women and something that I am actively traversing, but I am fully confident in the team I am working with. It is just going to take longer than I thought.”

In Danielle’s personal phrases, ‘I will probably be again subsequent 12 months, this story is just not over.’

Now, whereas teaching adjustments are regular and plentiful on this planet of tennis, the timing of Iga Swiatek making a change stunned many, with only a few weeks of the season left to play.

Deciding to sit down out the Asian swing, the information then got here that Swiatek and coach Tomasz Wiktorowski had been parting methods after three very profitable years collectively which noticed her win 19 of her 22 tour titles, together with 4 of her 5 Grand Slams.

Swiatek spoke of being able to take the subsequent step in her profession and that can embody the skilled Belgian coach Wim Fissette.

Fissette, who till lately was with Naomi Osaka, has proclaimed Swiatek to be ‘most likely the most effective tennis athlete of all time.’

This all leads up very properly to the season-ending finale, the WTA Finals. The eight gamers are confirmed and with the rankings out right this moment, Aryna Sabalenka is again at World No 1, with this week being her ninth in high spot after her current Wuhan win took her 41 factors forward of Swiatek, who will probably be defending her title on the finals with a most of 1500 factors on provide.

Riyadh in Saudi Arabia, which has simply held the Six Kings Slam, is the host for the subsequent three editions of the WTA Finals, with a prize fund of $15.25 million.

It’s a controversial alternative, with Jessica Pegula saying: “If we go there we want to be making change.”

I’m wanting ahead to being reunited with Laura and Tim for each the WTA and ATP finals, which we can have for you dwell on Sky Sports activities Tennis from November 2. However I am not wanting ahead to us going over our high eight predictions which we made at first of the 12 months, as I do know there’s going to be lots of ‘Why did you choose them’ and ‘Did you actually assume they might make the finals?’

So, I’m going to spend a while earlier than we head on the market engaged on my excuses for why I picked who I did!

What’s arising on Sky Sports activities Tennis?

• Erste Financial institution Open, Vienna – ATP 500 (October 21-27)
• Swiss Indoors, Basel – ATP 500 (October 21-27)
• Guangzhou Open, China – WTA 250 (October 21-27)
• Toray Pan Pacific Open Tennis, Tokyo – WTA 500 (October 21-27)
• Hong Kong Tennis Open – WTA 250 (October 28 – November 3)
• Jiangxi Open – WTA 250 (October 28 – November 3)
• Merida Open Akron – WTA 250 (October 28 – November 3)
• Rolex Paris Masters – ATP 1000 (October 28 – November 3)

Sky Sports activities+ has formally launched and will probably be built-in into Sky TV, streaming service NOW and the Sky Sports activities app, giving Sky Sports activities prospects entry to over 50 per cent extra dwell sport this 12 months at no additional value. Discover out extra right here.