Jannik Sinner: Fans Furious at the Organizers of the Six Kings Slam

The mere publication of the 2026 Six Kings Slam draw was enough to immediately spark debate among tennis fans. The controversy isn’t so much about the quality of the field in Riyadh as it is about the organizers’ decision not to grant Jannik Sinner the status of defending champion, despite his victories in the first two editions of the Saudi exhibition tournament.

Sinner, in fact, will start in the qualifying round against Alex de Minaur, while Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz—just as in the two previous editions of the exhibition tournament—have already been seeded directly into the semifinals. The other qualifying match will pit Alexander Zverev against Taylor Fritz. If he advances, Sinner would face the Serbian in the semifinals and, potentially, the player from Murcia (who will face the winner of the match between Sascha and the American in the semifinals) in the final, just as happened in 2024 and 2025.

There was no shortage of controversial reactions from the Italian player’s fans on social media. “He’s won the last two editions, and he still has to start one round later?” writes one user. “Right now, every match counts,” noted another fan, who pointed out that the world No. 1 is entering the tournament at a particularly delicate stage of the season. Among other comments, some openly called the decision “inexplicable” toward the player who has shone the brightest in the tournament.

What worries fans isn’t just a matter of principle. In fact, many point out that even a single additional match could make all the difference for an athlete coming off weeks that have been physically challenging. “If there’s one player who deserved an easier draw, it’s the one who won the last two editions,” reads one of the most widely shared comments, while others point out that accumulating extra minutes and physical strain could be a factor not to be underestimated.

It remains to be seen how the tournament will play out. If there’s one constant in the tournament’s recent history, it’s that Sinner has always managed to find a way to prevail, turning every obstacle into further motivation. And that’s precisely why fans are hoping that, once again, the controversy will soon give way to results.