The spotlight shone brightly as Neymar Jr. graced the Six Kings Slam semifinal clash, where Rafael Nadal took on young phenom on Thursday, October 17. Following a thrilling encounter, Nadal had a delightful surprise for the Brazilian superstar, gifting him one of his cherished rackets.

In a clash that had tennis enthusiasts buzzing, Alcaraz squared off against his idol Nadal during the exhibition event held in Riyadh. Nadal advanced directly to the semifinals after a bye in the quarterfinals, while the 20-year-old Alcaraz showcased his prowess by defeating Holger Rune with a convincing scoreline of 6-4, 6-2.

Entering the match, Alcaraz was the clear favorite, especially after his recent triumphs in China, whereas Nadal had been away from professional play since the Paris Olympics. As anticipated, Alcaraz emerged victorious with a solid 6-3, 6-3 performance, further solidifying his potential as the next big star in tennis.

Neymar Jr., currently plying his trade with Al-Hilal in the Saudi football league, was present at the Riyadh semifinal. He had met Alcaraz just the day before, after the young Spaniard’s quarterfinal victory over Rune but this encounter with Nadal made waves in the sports community.

In a touching gesture, the 38-year-old Nadal, who is poised to retire after the Davis Cup Finals in November, bestowed Neymar with a special gift that symbolized their shared passion for sports.

Later, Neymar took to Instagram to flaunt his new treasure, posting a mirror selfie in an elevator, along with a heartfelt message of thanks to Nadal, whom he referred to as a legend.

Looking ahead, the third day of the Six Kings Slam on Saturday, October 19, promises to deliver thrilling action with two key matchups. The legendary Novak Djokovic is set to clash with Rafael Nadal in the third-place playoff while the final will see Alcaraz battle against Jannik Sinner.

Both Djokovic and Nadal entered the semis after receiving byes, while Sinner earned his spot by thrashing Daniil Medvedev 6-0, 6-3. Having recently met in the Shanghai Masters final days prior, where Sinner triumphed, fans were treated to yet another intense showdown. In Riyadh, Sinner continued his winning streak, overcoming Djokovic with a score of 6-2, 6-7(0), 6-4.

After his win over his idol Nadal, Alcaraz is now set for a titanic final against World No. 1 Sinner, with the winner walking away with a staggering $6 million prize.