The Six Kings Slam is an exhibition tennis tournament held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It will officially kick off on Wednesday and features six prominent tennis players. Former World No. 1s Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal have a bye into the semifinals.
On the opening day of the event, Jannik Sinner will face familiar foe, Daniil Medvedev, while Carlos Alcaraz will play former junior partner Holger Rune in the other one-off match.
All six players are reportedly set to bank $1.5 million in appearance fees, while the tournament winner will earn the biggest paycheck in tennis history, quoted as $6 million. No ranking points will be offered because the tournament is not affiliated with the ATP.
Six Kings Slam Predictions
Carlos Alcaraz vs Holger Rune
Head-to-head: Alcaraz 2-1 Rune
This will be Alcaraz’s second trip to the Gulf kingdom. He was there last year as part of his preparations for the 2024 season and defeated Novak Djokovic in an exhibition match, so he is a popular figure in Saudi Arabia. Since his shock US Open exit, the Spaniard has gone on a winning spree, culminating with a title win in Beijing (his first on Asian soil) before running out of energy in Shanghai.
Rune is coming off a disappointing loss in Shanghai, where he won a paltry three games against Taylor Fritz. He’s made another addition to his coaching team this week as he aims to reduce the gap to the ATP’s elite. The Dane is a scrappy competitor who will use his athleticism to defend what Alcaraz throws at him. But with the potential to play Nadal in the semis, expect Alcaraz to rise to the occasion.
Prediction: Alcaraz in 2
Jannik Sinner vs Daniil Medvedev
Head-to-head: Sinner 7-7 Medvedev
How quickly will Daniil Medvedev recover from his recent shoulder injury in Shanghai? At the same time, how quickly will Jannik Sinner recover from a physically and emotionally draining fortnight in Shanghai? Add the after-effects of jetlag after his late departure from Shanghai thanks to a title win, and there is a good chance of an upset here. It may only be an exhibition, but both players will be determined to put in maximum effort given the prize money at stake.
Prediction: Medvedev in 3
Main Photo Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
