The 6 Kings Slam, scheduled for October, represents Saudi Arabia’s ambitious foray into tennis, boasting a star-studded lineup featuring the likes of Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal. This exhibition tournament in Riyadh promises an unprecedented prize pool compared to standard tour events.
Participants stand to earn a staggering $1.5 million merely for their presence over the event’s duration. Joining Djokovic and Nadal are other heavyweights such as Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, Daniil Medvedev, and Holger Rune, all of whom have either clinched or contended for Grand Slam titles.
The tournament, organized by the same entity responsible for staging major boxing matches in recent times, reflects Saudi Arabia’s strategic push into global sports events, setting aside promotional differences to deliver blockbuster spectacles. Part of the Riyadh Season, this event follows last Christmas’s exhibition clash between Djokovic and Alcaraz in the Kingdom.
Nadal’s recent appointment as an ambassador for the Saudi Tennis Federation underscores the country’s commitment to expanding its tennis footprint. Plans are underway for a Rafa Nadal Academy in Saudi Arabia, with the country slated to host the Next Gen ATP Finals in Jeddah until 2027. Despite vocal opposition from tennis luminaries like Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert regarding the integration of women’s events and LGBTQ+ rights, there are indications that the WTA Finals might also gravitate toward Saudi Arabia.
The ripple effect of this tennis extravaganza extends to the men’s circuit, potentially impacting participation in tournaments like the Shanghai Masters and the Paris Masters, depending on scheduling conflicts and player priorities. As Saudi Arabia emerges as a formidable player in the global sports arena, questions linger about the implications of hosting events in a nation with stringent laws concerning gender equality and sexual orientation, particularly for athletes like Daria Kasatkina.