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 appears again on the Six Kings Slam in Saudi Arabia whereas making an attempt to select 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 throughout 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 need to speak about 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 doubtless 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 – one of the best two gamers on this planet face one another.

Nadal’s largest battle over his profession has been along 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 various who’re completely happy he did.

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

Pat Money, Liam Broady and I had been requested throughout 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 unquestionably one thing we can’t see once more and, secondly, profitable his 14th with ‘no feeling’ in his left foot is outrageous!

Speaking about Nadal, Djokovic stated: “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 may need to attend till the summer season as I am unsure he might be including to his 10 Australian Open titles in January, however then once more my report 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 because the Beijing ultimate that noticed Alcaraz lengthen his lead over Sinner to 3-0 in 2024.

A rivalry that’s constructing properly, good mates off the courtroom, and nice adversaries on it who carry out one of the best in one another.

Sinner, the confirmed year-end No 1, could be topped the $6 million man, coming from a set right down to beat Alcaraz, and whereas it was an exhibition, you are feeling psychologically it was crucial for Sinner to get the win – with some essential 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 be the 12 months we stated goodbye to Andy Murray, Angelique Kerber, Garbine Muguruza, Camila Giorgi and Steve Johnson. Dominic Thiem can be taking part in his final occasion this week in Vienna, whereas Diego Schwartzman and Richard Gasquet have introduced that they are going to be retiring throughout the 2025 season.

Somebody we anticipated to say goodbye to was Danielle Collins, who stunned everybody in the beginning of the 12 months by saying that 2024 could be her final season earlier than occurring 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.

At any time when she was requested if she would change her thoughts, she stated – in no unsure phrases – that she would not, however what is not sure and what we won’t predict is the long run, one during which Collins has spoken of her ‘final dream’ to have a household – a dream which is made all of the more durable by endometriosis which may 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 might be again subsequent 12 months, this story will not be 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 just some 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 following step in her profession and that may embrace the skilled Belgian coach Wim Fissette.

Fissette, who till just lately was with Naomi Osaka, has proclaimed Swiatek to be ‘in all probability one of the best 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 now, Aryna Sabalenka is again at World No 1, with this week being her ninth in prime spot after her current Wuhan win took her 41 factors forward of Swiatek, who might 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 following three editions of the WTA Finals, with a prize fund of $15.25 million.

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

I’m trying ahead to being reunited with Laura and Tim for each the WTA and ATP finals, which we can have for you reside on Sky Sports activities Tennis from November 2. However I am not trying ahead to us going over our prime eight predictions which we made in the beginning of the 12 months, as I do know there may be going to be lots of ‘Why did you choose them’ and ‘Did you actually suppose 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 developing 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 might 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 reside sport this 12 months at no further value. Discover out extra right here.