Some tennis aficionados question the decision of top players to participate in in-season exhibitions like the Six Kings Slam in Saudi Arabia, especially when they often express concerns about the congested tournament calendar.
Taylor Fritz, however, sees it differently—he’s eyeing a whopping $6 million in prize money.
“I’d be curious to learn about a tournament where you could play just three matches—two for the top seeds—and potentially pocket $6 million,” Fritz remarked during a video interview from Riyadh on Tuesday, his arms crossed in thought. “I’d love to hear that!”
Fritz is among six elite players ready to kick off the second edition of the Six Kings Slam. Notably, Jannik Sinner returns after claiming the top prize last year in Saudi Arabia, which surpasses what most traditional tournaments award their champions. The U.S. Open recently set a record with its $5 million payouts to singles winners.
This event is part of Saudi Arabia’s broader push into the tennis world, which includes the WTA Finals in Riyadh and the ATP Next Gen Finals in Jeddah, alongside the Public Investment Fund’s sponsorship of the tours’ rankings. Critics, like Hall of Famers Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova, have voiced concerns over the kingdom’s human rights record, particularly regarding LGBTQ+ and women’s rights.
At the Six Kings Slam, each player is guaranteed an appearance fee of around $1.5 million, with the ultimate champion raking in a total that could reach six times that, as matches will be streamed live on Netflix.
“The financial aspect isn’t something we’re trying to obscure. We acknowledge what’s at stake, and it would be disingenuous to say it doesn’t motivate us,” said Sinner, who triumphed at the Australian Open and Wimbledon this year and was the runner-up to his rival Carlos Alcaraz at the French Open and U.S. Open. “Every player intends to win as many matches as possible. This is like any other exhibition—though here, the stakes feel a bit higher.”
After experiencing severe leg cramps in his last match at the Shanghai Masters, Sinner confirmed he has fully recovered. “I took some days off to recuperate, and now I’m set for the rest of the season,” he stated, mentioning he hasn’t yet decided whether to assist Italy in their quest for a third consecutive Davis Cup title next month. “Mentally, I’m in good shape and ready to give my all.”
Sinner will face Stefano Tsitsipas on Day 1, while Fritz takes on Alexander Zverev. The winner of the Fritz-Zverev match will meet Alcaraz on Thursday, and the Sinner-Tsitsipas winner will clash with Novak Djokovic. Following a day off on Friday, the semifinal victors will contest the final on Saturday.
Djokovic boasts a men’s record of 24 Grand Slam titles, Alcaraz has six, and Sinner holds four; each has held the prestigious No. 1 ranking at some point.
Fritz was the runner-up to Sinner at the 2024 U.S. Open, while Zverev has reached three major finals, including losses to Sinner at this year’s Australian Open and Alcaraz last year at the French Open.
