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All you need to know about Saudi Arabia's Six Kings Slam ft. Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Carlos Alcaraz & more

Published at :September 19, 2024 at 4:20 PM
Modified at :September 20, 2024 at 6:04 PM
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Aniruddh Seshadri


The exhibition will involve record-breaking prize money for the players.

Saudi Arabia has been introducing events and bringing in players while drawing the attention of the tennis fraternity towards itself. The Six Kings Slam in tennis will hope to have a massive impact on the sport.

The country has already successfully managed to do the same in sports like football, Formula One and golf and therefore by announcing lucrative prizes for the winners, they are set to take their first major leap in this direction.

A swashbuckling lineup involving arguably the best tennis players from the current men’s singles lot are set to feature at the tournament termed as the Six Kings Slam. The event is certain to attract viewers from across the globe, which will only aid Saudi Arabia’s cause as they look to further popularize the sport of tennis.

However, one cannot help but notice that there will be no female tennis players at this event. Recently, some of the players have criticized and rejected Saudi’s tennis interests, including legends Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert.

The two athletes dismissed Saudi Arabia as the host of the WTA Finals, deeming it incompatible with the spirit and purpose of women’s tennis and the WTA itself. “A country that criminalizes the LGBTQ community to the point of possible death. A country whose track record on human rights and fundamental freedoms has concerned the international community for decades,” they stressed.

What is the Six Kings Slam?

The tennis exhibition will be happening later this year and will feature six of the biggest names in the sport, including Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic. The exhibition event will be a part of Riyadh Season and will not count towards ranking points or be part of the men’s ATP Tour.

When & where will Saudi Arabia’s Six Kings Slam take place?

The tournament will be played from October 16 to 19 in Riyadh, including a rest day on the 18th, as according to the norms of the ATP, no exhibition event can conduct the sport for three consecutive days.

Also Read: Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal headline Saudi Arabia’s new ‘Kings Slam’ tennis event

Which six players constitute the Six Kings Slam?

The 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic, 22-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal, four-time Grand Slam champion Carlos Alcaraz, 2022 US Open winner Daniil Medvedev, Two-time Grand Slam winner Jannik Sinner and the highly-talented 21-year-old Holger Rune will be participating at this event.

What is the tournament format?

The tournament is expected to be played on hard courts, but the detailed format is yet to be disclosed.

What is the prize money?

The centre of attraction regarding this event are it’s record-breaking numbers. A staggering $1.5m dollars (about INR 13 crores) will be awarded to each player, with the winner taking home a massive $6m (about INR 51 crores), the highest prize money in the history of the sport.

How different is it from usual ATP/Grand Slam tournaments?

While the Six Kings Slam will not influence ATP rankings as it is an exhibition event, the most notable difference lies in its prize money. Infact, the prize money for the Six Kings Slam surpasses that of any other Grand Slam, including the prestigious Wimbledon Championship.

Players who missed out on Six Kings Slam

The most notable men’s singles players to have missed the cut are Alexander Zverev and Stefanos Tsitsipas. While five of the six are Grand Slam winners, with the exception of Holger Rune. Many have questioned Rune’s inclusion and Zverev’s exclusion, given the German has an Olympic gold under his belt.

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