Jannik Sinner Reflects: The Most Lucrative Tournament Is at Serious Risk

The countdown has already begun for the new edition of men’s tennis’s richest tournament, the Six Kings Slam, but the current geopolitical situation is casting serious doubt on the event in Saudi Arabia and the participation of top players such as Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz.

The Italian tennis player has won the Riyadh tournament for the past two years, and in 2025 he took home a $6.5 million prize by playing and winning just three matches, including the thrilling final against Carlos Alcaraz.

The 2026 edition of the Six Kings Slam is scheduled to be broadcast live on Netflix on October 21, 22, and 24, and this year’s participants include Sinner, Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, Alexander Zverev, Taylor Fritz, and Alex de Minaur. However, the tournament is at high risk of being canceled, as has happened to other major sporting events in the region, such as the Formula 1 and MotoGP Grand Prix races.

The final decision on whether the competition will actually take place could depend on the players’ willingness to travel to Saudi Arabia. Both Sinner and Alcaraz have in the past spoken positively about the Saudi organizers and are currently weighing their options. The substantial prize money at stake could, however, convince the players to set aside any reservations about competing in Saudi Arabia. The final decision on how to proceed will likely be made only after seeing how the geopolitical situation develops in the coming weeks: with the conflict between the United States and Iran still unresolved, peace negotiations apparently at a standstill, and the recent Houthi attack in the region, a further escalation of hostilities would seriously jeopardize the Six Kings Slam.

Sinner, who has been sidelined since the Wimbledon final due to a knee injury, is currently working to return to 100% fitness ahead of the season finale: his next goals are the tournaments in China.