Picture this: a tennis sensation snatches a whopping $6 million jackpot by besting the reigning world No. 1 in a high-stakes showdown. It's Jannik Sinner's moment of glory in the Six Kings Slam, and it's got everyone talking. But here's where it gets controversial – is this just a flashy exhibition, or does it hint at a shifting balance of power in men's tennis? Stick around, because this story unfolds with twists that might just redefine what we expect from the sport's elite.
In a thrilling repeat performance, Italian star Jannik Sinner (whose journey you can explore in more depth here: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6570181/2025/08/26/jannik-sinner-tennis-interview-us-open/) overcame Spanish powerhouse Carlos Alcaraz (dive into his world No. 1 status here: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6609178/2025/09/07/carlos-alcaraz-us-open-world-no-1-sinner/) in the final of the Six Kings Slam for the second consecutive year. The prize? A staggering $6 million (equivalent to about £4.47 million), cementing his dominance in this prestigious event held in Riyadh.
Sinner, currently ranked as the world's No. 2, delivered a commanding victory against a somewhat subdued Alcaraz, securing a 6-2, 6-4 triumph. This win showcased the enhancements Sinner has made to his serve, a key factor after his recent U.S. Open final loss to Alcaraz just last month (for a full breakdown of that match, check out this analysis: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6608295/2025/09/07/us-open-final-alcaraz-sinner-result-analysis/). Serving with precision and power, Sinner dominated the fast-paced conditions in Riyadh, keeping his serve unbroken and rarely showing signs of stress.
Every participant in the Six Kings Slam walked away with a hefty $1.5 million just for showing up, and some even pocketed extra through appearance fees – a perk that adds an interesting layer to these invitational events. The lineup included tennis giants like Alexander Zverev, Novak Djokovic, Taylor Fritz, and Stefanos Tsitsipas, alongside Sinner and Alcaraz.
The tournament's path was filled with quick-fire matches. Zverev fell to Fritz in a swift quarterfinal that lasted just an hour, while Tsitsipas was similarly dispatched by Sinner in a fast-paced encounter. In the semis, Alcaraz edged out Fritz, and Sinner powered past Djokovic. The third-place clash between Djokovic and Fritz ended prematurely when Djokovic retired after dropping the first set in a tiebreak.
Reflecting on his U.S. Open setback, Sinner had vowed to mix up his game to stay unpredictable against Alcaraz, especially on hard courts where the Spaniard has ramped up his serving prowess in 2025. In Riyadh, Sinner took the initiative right from the start, setting a tone that lasted the entire match. And this is the part most people miss – how these exhibition tournaments, while lucrative, sometimes reveal a player's true form or fatigue in ways regular tour events might not.
Looking ahead, both Sinner and Alcaraz are gearing up for the ATP Tour Finals in Turin, Italy, at the end of the season. Sinner has a stop first at the Vienna Open, an ATP 500 tournament, while Alcaraz holds a commanding 2,540-point lead in the Race to Turin standings (which tally points earned throughout 2025). This puts him in prime position to claim the year-end world No. 1 title, but is it a foregone conclusion? Could unforeseen injuries or breakthroughs change the narrative?
Published on October 18, 2025, in the Connections: Sports Edition – where we challenge you to spot patterns and connect sports terms in our 'Find the hidden link' feature.
James Hansen (https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/author/james-hansen/) serves as a Senior Editor at The Athletic, specializing in tennis. Before joining The Athletic in 2024, he edited for Vox Media in London for nearly five years. A Cambridge University graduate who competed in college tennis (on the British circuit, not the American one), James now leads as team captain at Ealing Tennis Club in west London. Follow his insights on Twitter at @jameskhansen (https://twitter.com/jameskhansen).
What do you think – does Sinner's win signal a new era in tennis, or is Alcaraz just biding his time? Are these big-money exhibitions fair, or do they overshadow the grind of the actual tour? Share your thoughts in the comments; I'd love to hear your take and spark a debate!
