Boris
Becker gave his verdict on the Six Kings Slam and whether it is good for
tennis. The exhibition tournament held in Riyadh announced a star-studded draw
featuring Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, Daniil
Medvedev, and Holger Rune, generating great anticipation in the tennis world.
Six Kings Slam sparks debate
Saudi
Arabia is pushing for a greater presence in sports, and while they already
hosted the Next Gen ATP Finals and the WTA Finals, they are still looking for
opportunities to bring top male tennis stars. With a prize money exceeding $14
million, of which $6 million is allocated for the champion, it significantly
surpasses the $3.6 million awarded at the US Open or the $2.1 million at the
Australian Open.
However,
not everyone has been satisfied with the tournament. One of those was Andy
Murray, who recently responded to his compatriot Liam Broady regarding a
promotional trailer for the event. The three-time Grand Slam champion
commented, “You won’t watch it because it’s an exhibition tennis event that
nobody cares aboutCa
Alcaraz and Sinner at the China Open. They will face off this Saturday for the title and a $6 million prize in Riyadh.
This time,
Boris Becker shared his opinion on social media. While he expressed support for
the development of the tournament, the former world No. 1 criticized the
official broadcast: “What about the camera angle… feels like I am watching from
space! So I guess it’s not really my eyes,” he wrote on X. “Look, I am a
believer in opening new markets for tennis since it’s a global sport! Riyadh
Season gave six kings an opportunity to showcase their ability in a relatively
new territory for tennis. Nothing wrong whatsoever!”
After the
semifinals held on Friday, the last matches of the tournament were defined,
concluding this Sunday. In the first match, Novak Djokovic will face Rafael
Nadal in a reunion after 60 matches against each other, which will be the last
encounter with Nadal as a professional. Both fell in their respective semifinal
duels and will seek third place. After that match, we will witness a rematch of
the current rivalry: Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz in a showdown for the
largest prize money in tennis history.