What is the Six Kings Slam? Why Netflix's $6M tournament is motivating Jannik Sinner, Taylor Fritz

Drew Bishop

What is the Six Kings Slam? Why Netflix's $6M tournament is motivating Jannik Sinner, Taylor Fritz image

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The 2025 Grand Slam season has wrapped up but there's still a big fish to be won by the best tennis players.

The U.S. Open set a Grand Slam record with a $5 million prize for the winners. The Six Kings Slam that begins October 15th in Saudi Arabia is giving $6 million to its champion. 

The tournament's second year will bring new faces, new challenges, and maybe a new champion. So what are the key things to look out for in the Six Kings Slam?

What is the Six Kings Slam?

The Six Kings Slam is tennis tournament held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia over four days. The exhibition event began in 2024 when Jannik Sinner won a $6 million dollar grand prize. 

This year Sinner is returning along with Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic. Joining them will be Alexander Zverev, Taylor Fritz, and Stefanos Tsitsipas who is a substitute for Jack Draper. 

Each player participating automatically wins $1.5 million, the winner will take $6 million, and the total purse is $13.5 million. 

What is the Six Kings Slam schedule?

The Six Kings Slam will air on Netflix over three days.

Wednesday, Oct. 15:

  • Alexander Zverev vs Taylor Fritz
  • Jannik Sinner vs Stefanos Tsitsipas

Thursday, Oct. 16:

  • Carlos Alcaraz vs Alexander Zverev / Taylor Fritz
  • Jannik Sinner / Stefanos Tsitsipas vs Novak Djokovic

Saturday, Oct. 18:

  • Third-Place Match
  • Final

Jannik Sinner, Taylor Fritz motivated by $6M prize

It's the biggest prize on the ATP tour is the main motivator behind this tournament. It's an exhibition so no points count towards world rankings and it's not a Grand Slam Event. 

"The money is nothing we're trying to hide. We know how much is at stake here, and it would be a lie if I told you it wasn't a motivation," World No. 2 Jannik Sinner said. "Every player here will try to win as many matches as possible. It's like any other exhibition - except here there is a bit more motivation."

World No. 4 Taylor Fritz commented on the quick turnaround of the tournament saying it's one "Where you can go play three matches -- well, for the top two seeds, two matches -- and potentially make $6 million."

It's a fair point that while a Grand Slam is a grueling, two week tournament, the three-day affair in Saudi Arabia is a easy dollar. Of course players have to be invited but once there it's an easy schedule. 

The Six Kings Slam won't define any legacies or change the world rankings but it's the best of the best going up against each other for the most money. 

That's enough to draw intrigue in the final months of the 2025 season. 

MORE: 

Alexander Zverev claims Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz have unfair advantage in tournaments

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Drew Bishop

Drew Bishop is a freelance writer with The Sporting News. After graduating from the Klein College of Media and Communication at Temple University, he worked in local media in Sandusky, Ohio at BCSN and the Sandusky Register, freelancing as a reporter, broadcast director and play-by-play commentator for high school sports. He then moved on to KRIS 6 News where he serves as a producer in the news department.