RIYADH: Jannik Sinner claimed the title at the second staging of the Six Kings Slam in Riyadh with a commanding performance against Carlos Alcaraz in the final, solidifying his place as one of the dominant forces in men’s tennis.
In front of a packed and enthusiastic crowd at ANB Arena, Sinner outplayed Alcaraz in straight sets, showing clinical precision and relentless aggression from the baseline. The Italian was in imperious form from the first point, breaking early and maintaining control throughout the match.
“I was looking forward to this match,” Sinner said in the post-match press conference. “It was a great performance from my side, but also, you know, seeing the electric audience today was very nice to be part of this match.”
Sinner, who adds another elite-level title to his growing collection, praised the crowd and the tournament atmosphere.
“The whole week has been very, very nice. To me and to all the players, the atmosphere has been amazing since Day 1. We feel it as competitors — when someone needs a little bit of support, they’re ready to do that. It was a very balanced audience. I'm very happy to be part of this second staging of Six Kings Slam,” he said.
Italy's Jannik Sinner hits a return against Spain's Carlos Alcaraz during the final the Six Kings Slam exhibition tennis tournament in Riyadh on October 18, 2025. (AFP)
Spain's Carlos Alcaraz in action against Italy's Jannik Sinner during the final the Six Kings Slam exhibition tennis tournament in Riyadh on October 18, 2025. (AN photo by Abdulrahman bin Shalhoub)
The final added another chapter in the burgeoning rivalry between Sinner and Alcaraz, two of the sport’s brightest young stars. While Alcaraz showed flashes of brilliance — especially in the second set — he was ultimately unable to match Sinner’s consistency and tactical execution.
“Well, I just, I try to compete,” Alcaraz said after the loss. “It was really disappointing for me … after the first, I just told myself, ‘OK, go there, try to compete, improve your game.’ I was making a few mistakes. I played a little bit better, but it wasn’t enough.”
Despite the defeat, the Spaniard maintained a forward-looking mindset. “I think this match is going to give me great feedback. When I’m coming back home, I’ll practice the things that I need before the next tournament. I’ll try to get the best feedback that I can from this match.”
Earlier in the day, the third-place playoff delivered an unexpected twist when Novak Djokovic was forced to retire from his match against Taylor Fritz after a grueling first set. The highly anticipated clash — just weeks after their US Open quarterfinal — lived up to expectations early, with both players locked in a tense battle that lasted over an hour and 15 minutes.
Fritz edged the opening set via a tiebreak, but before the second could begin, Djokovic withdrew due to physical discomfort. Reflecting on the set, the Serbian legend remarked, “It was one of the longest sets I’ve played.”
Fritz Taylor hits a return against Novak Djokovic in their third place match at the ANB Arena in Riyadh on Saturday. (AN photo by Abdulrahman bin Shalhoub)
Novak Djokovic in action during his third place match against Taylor Fritz at the ANB Arena in Riyadh on Saturday. (AN photo by Abdulrahman bin Shalhoub)
While the retirement brought an abrupt end to the contest, Fritz’s resilience and form were evident throughout a high-quality first set.
The Six Kings Slam, which brings together six of the world’s top-ranked players in a unique invitational format, has quickly become a marquee event on the tennis calendar. With its star-studded lineup, crowd energy, and sold-out arena, the tournament once again delivered world-class tennis to a growing fanbase in the Middle East.
As Sinner hoisted the trophy under the Riyadh lights, one thing became clear: the future of men’s tennis is not just promising — it’s already here.
