Riyadh, 19 October (H.S.): Jannik Sinner delivered a commanding performance on Saturday to defeat his great rival, Carlos Alcaraz, in a straight-sets victory at the lucrative Six Kings Slam, claiming a staggering $6M prize. In a highly anticipated final, the Italian dismantled the world number one with a 6-2, 6-4 win, exacting a measure of revenge for his recent US Open final loss.
From the opening game, Sinner established his dominance, breaking Alcaraz's serve and never looking back. The 24-year-old showcased a clinical display of power and precision, particularly with his serving, leaving the Spaniard unable to find a foothold in the match. The victory marked Sinner's second consecutive title at the exhibition event in Saudi Arabia.
The tournament, a three-day spectacle streamed on Netflix, featured six of the world's top male players and offered a total prize pool of $13.5M. While the results do not affect official ATP rankings, the financial stakes were immense, with each participant guaranteed a $1.5M appearance fee and the winner pocketing an additional $4.5M.
When Jannik is playing at this level it is always difficult, today he was just too good, Alcaraz conceded after the match. He acknowledged that Sinner's high level of play provides him with extra motivation to improve.
Sinner, in turn, spoke of the burgeoning rivalry and friendship between the two, who have won nine of the last ten major titles between them. It is a huge pleasure and honour to share the court with him, Sinner said. You need rivalries in the sport. So it's nice to have a great rivalry and more importantly a great friendship off the court.
The path to the final saw Sinner overpower a 24-time major winner Novak Djokovic, while Alcaraz defeated American Taylor Fritz. The event has drawn attention not only for its star power but also as part of Saudi Arabia's significant investment in sports, a move critics describe as 'sportswashing' to improve its international image amid concerns over its human rights record.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar