This week, five of the top ten men’s tennis players in the world will showcase their talents at an exciting exhibition event in Saudi Arabia. The Six Kings Slam promises substantial prize money, with a total of $4.5 million (£3.4 million) on the line. In addition to the prize pool, it is reported that players have been offered seven-figure sums just to participate, with the event winner potentially walking away with a remarkable $6 million (£4.5 million).
To put this into perspective, the earnings from the Six Kings Slam are noteworthy when compared to major Grand Slam tournaments. For instance, the singles champion at the US Open received $5 million (£3.8 million), while the Australian Open offered £3.5 million, Wimbledon provided £3 million, and the French Open had a prize pot of 2.5 million euros (£2.2 million).
The competition is set to feature some of the brightest stars in tennis, including the current top two players, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, as well as third-ranked Alexander Zverev, 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic, world number four Taylor Fritz, and two-time major finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas. Notably, Britain’s Jack Draper will miss the event due to an arm injury that has led him to conclude his season early.
This marks the second installment of the Six Kings Slam, after last year’s thrilling final in which Sinner triumphed over Alcaraz, further escalating the rivalry between these emerging tennis talents. The event not only promises high-stakes competition but also highlights the growing appeal of tennis in the Middle East, showcasing how such exhibitions can attract significant interest and investment in the sport.