Darren Cahill elaborates on Jannik Sinner's 'no money' comments post-Saudi victory

Jannik Sinner’s coach, Darren Cahill, has explained in detail his comments about playing the Six Kings Slam in Saudi Arabia. The exhibition event was organised in the Middle Eastern country where six big names participated, including the likes of Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz, Serbia’s Novak Djokovic and Spain’s Rafael Nadal.

It was Italy’s Sinner who came out on top in the competition as he defeated Alcaraz in the final with a score of 6-7, 6-3, 6-3. With that win, the two-time Grand Slam winner ended up earning as much as £4.6 million. After the competition, the reigning world number one, in an interview with Eurosport, stated that he did not participate in the competition because of his money and his only objective was to improve as well.

“I don't play for money,” he said while speaking to Eurosport. “It's very simple. Of course it's a nice prize, but I went there because there was possibly the six best players in the world and you can measure yourself with them. It was also a nice event. Of course the money is important, but not that much. I live a good life also without this money, so it’s much more important the health I have and surrounding myself with great people and the family I have. And the money is just an extra.”

Sinner’s coach Cahill has recently spoken to Italian media outlet Gazzetta Dello Sport where he explained what the reigning world number one meant when he said that he did not participate in the event because of money. “What he said about not going to Riyadh for the money was misinterpreted,” he said. “Or maybe he didn't explain himself well. The truth is that he had never played an exhibition, he has always been focused on improving his tennis. He knows what his priorities are. Then he got an offer for the Six Kings Slam, with the six best players in the world and a lot of money. He consulted us and we said why not, and he accepted.”