Show must go on: Legendary rivalry concludes, we're slowly becoming aware of a new one

"Don't compare them to us, let them build their own story," said Rafael Nadal about the new rulers of world tennis, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner.

Yesterday, Rafa and Novak played their final 'Rafole,' a classic that over time became the pinnacle of sport, its very essence. Every tennis stadium would transform into a gladiatorial arena when the Serbian mental giant and the Mallorcan Bull clashed their rackets.

But the show must go on, just like in the timeless hit from Queen's 1991 album. Frontman Freddie Mercury kept performing, lifting tens of thousands of people to their feet and captivating them with his energy... He did all this even though he knew he was dying, as AIDS had imposed a ticking clock on him.

Thankfully, Rafa is alive and well, but his body is no longer at the level required to win titles and major tournaments. Novak defies time, aware that his body — or rather, the spark within — still has some fuel left. But even as the Serbian gladiator endures, the time has come for a new tennis rivalry.

"Rivalries are important for sport. People love duality. Even though it's not my life philosophy, I understand people who enjoy it—'River–Boca, left or right.' Back then, it was Roger and Rafa, and they would tell me: 'Novak, what are you doing here? Who is this guy? There's no room for a third.' And then we formed the most incredible trio tennis has ever seen," Djokovic recently said in an extensive interview with Argentina's La Nación.

In a symbolic turn, after Novak and Rafa finished their duel for third place at the Saudi exhibition "Six Kings Slam," Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz took to the court. Symbolically, it served as an even more striking introduction to a new rivalry that we are becoming more aware of every day.

Sinner lost the first set but won the next two, ultimately adding a total of 5,500,000 euros to his bank account for his achievements on the Arabian Peninsula over the past few days. But more important than the outcome of this match, which doesn’t count towards the head-to-head record between the Italian and the Spaniard, is the fact that, as Rafa said, they are building their rivalry day by day, writing their own story.

In the next 10 to 15 years, we will witness plenty of their high-stakes battles. This one was an exhibition, but even so, there was plenty to see — like Alcaraz's forehand winner clocked at 176 km/h.

After three consecutive losses, Jannik took Alcaraz's scalp for the first time in 2024. While this win won't count towards their official ATP head-to-head, even such details and victories matter. As for their ATP Tour encounters, the tally is already in double digits.

They began in 2021 at the start of the Paris Masters and have since played two finals, five semifinals, and one quarterfinal. They’ve faced each other three times in Grand Slams. In the 2022 Wimbledon fourth round, Sinner triumphed, while Alcaraz won at the US Open the same year. This year's Roland Garros semifinal went to the Spaniard.

The season is nearing its end, but it's not out of the question that we’ll see them face off a few more times before 2025 — perhaps in Paris, at the ATP Finals in Turin, or in the Davis Cup final if things align that way.

The show must, and will, go on... whether we want to admit it or not.