Six Kings Slam 2025: The Lucrative Stage of Tennis
Amidst debates over an overloaded schedule, the Six Kings Slam in Riyadh has emerged as tennis's new "cash stage," where Alcaraz, Djokovic, and Sinner set aside fatigue to compete for a $6 million check.
Yet beyond the glamorous spotlight, the question remains: Are these "kings" competing for honor, or merely for financial gain?
Six Kings and a $6 Million Check
As the season reaches the phase when annual controversies about tennis’s packed calendar resurface, there always seems to be room for a new tournament—especially one offering a $6 million prize. Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, and Jannik Sinner are among the players participating in the Six Kings Slam, now in its second year in Saudi Arabia. This three-day exhibition in Riyadh awards the winner over $1 million more than what Alcaraz earned winning the US Open last month, which already had the largest prize pool in Grand Slam history.
The Six Kings Slam has achieved what no ATP Tour event has managed: bringing Alcaraz, Djokovic, and Sinner together in one draw outside a Grand Slam for the first time this season. Several factors contributed: Sinner’s three-month doping suspension, Djokovic’s selective schedule, and Alcaraz’s occasional injury withdrawals. Still, credit goes to Turki Alalshikh, the mastermind behind Riyadh Season, for assembling such a star-studded tennis lineup once again.
Which "King" Will Crown Themselves in Riyadh This Weekend?
With a guaranteed fee reportedly $1.5 million plus a $4.5 million winner’s prize, there are $6 million reasons why Alcaraz, Djokovic, Sinner, along with Taylor Fritz, Alexander Zverev, and Stefanos Tsitsipas accepted the invitation—despite criticism of Saudi Arabia’s human rights record. Yet, money from the country’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) already flows into the ATP Tour, similar to their multibillion-dollar investments in football, boxing, F1, and golf, as part of economic diversification. Saudi Arabia will also host the WTA Finals for the second consecutive year next month, followed by the ATP Next Gen Finals. Thus, the Six Kings Slam is seen as a stepping stone toward hosting its own ATP Masters event in the Gulf region.
Naturally, those behind the Six Kings Slam can shape the event’s image any way they want—and they have: Djokovic was "granted" a direct semifinal spot alongside world number one Alcaraz, seemingly because they hold the most Grand Slam titles. Even the term "Slam" is just a flattering label; this is not a real Grand Slam. Although there are six players, one of the "kings," Tsitsipas, is now a mere shadow of himself, ranked 24th globally with only a 55% win rate this season.
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