The starting field? Top class. The prize money? Exorbitant. The Six Kings Slam exhibition tournament is causing a stir - despite its low sporting value. What does the controversial host want to achieve?
14.10.2024, 13:20
14.10.2024, 14:12
SDA
The elaborate promotional video for the Six Kings Slam looks like a trailer for a Hollywood blockbuster - and the tennis stars are all in it: Carlos Alcaraz as a cyborg, Jannik Sinner as a Renaissance artist, Holger Rune as a Viking, Daniil Medvedev as a bear rider, Rafael Nadal as a clay fighter, Novak Djokovic as a wolf tamer. "There's a lot of nonsense at the Six Kings Slam", commented the New York Times on the controversial show tournament in Saudi Arabia: "But the trailer? It's awesome."
It is probably the most expensive video production in tennis history - but money is no problem for the organizer. The General Entertainment Authority can draw on the Saudi state fund, which has an estimated total volume of 650 billion euros.
Lots of money, no points
The reported entry fee of 1.5 million US dollars for each starter is almost small change compared to this, as is the winner's prize of six million US dollars. The big money is part of the strategy to generate attention for an exhibition tournament that is actually irrelevant and in which neither an official title nor world ranking points are at stake.
At the premiere on October 16-19, the six tennis stars will compete in Riyadh in the "ultimate battle", as the organizers have artificially elevated the event. But there is no shortage of superlatives: never before has a show tournament had such a high-class line-up and been as well endowed as the Six Kings Slam, which also takes place during the ATP professional organization's season.
This is only possible because no major ATP tournament is scheduled during this period and there is a one-day break from competition on Friday. According to the ATP, unofficial events may not take place on three or more consecutive days.
Andy Murray: Nobody is interested in show tennis
Alcaraz, who only recently complained about the full ATP tournament calendar, will start off against the Dane Rune, while the Italian world number one Sinner will play against the Russian Medvedev. Grand Slam record winner Djokovic and former star Nadal are already seeded for the semi-finals.
The Spaniard recently announced his final retirement at the end of the season. Before his farewell at the Davis Cup final in mid-November, the 22-time Grand Slam tournament winner is to fulfill his role as Saudi Arabia's tennis ambassador. He is "very excited to be playing in Riyadh for the first time", said the 38-year-old dutifully. Nadal has not played an official singles match since the end of July and his elimination from the Olympics against Djokovic.
This is another reason why the sporting value of the Six Kings Slam is questionable, especially as the ATP Finals with the eight best tennis players of the year are due to take place three weeks later. It's just "show tennis that nobody cares about", wrote two-time Olympic champion Andy Murray on the X platform.
Massive investment in the sport - but why?
The WTA Finals for the top eight players, which will be held in Riyadh for the first time at the beginning of November, are about much more. Tennis icons Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova expressed their anger in a joint letter to WTA boss Steve Simon before the event was awarded: WTA finals in Saudi Arabia, which is widely criticized for human rights violations, would be "incompatible with the spirit and mission of women's tennis and the WTA". The WTA argued that the money from Saudi Arabia would significantly facilitate efforts to achieve equal pay - the same pay as men - outside of the Grand Slam tournaments.
The fact is: Saudi Arabia is increasing its influence in tennis. A multi-year strategic partnership with the ATP has been in place since February, with the Saudi sovereign wealth fund appearing as the name sponsor of the world rankings and as an official partner at major tournaments, among other things. The Next Gen Finals, the annual finals for the best professionals under the age of 21, are already being held in Jeddah.
Saudi Arabia has been investing heavily in sport for years and has also entered the football, boxing and Formula 1 business in a big way. The official goals of the "Vision 2030" state plan are to diversify the economy, become less dependent on oil, open up the country to tourists and provide attractive offers for its own population. However, the kingdom is also accused of using its involvement in sport to distract attention from its human rights violations and to improve its image.
