"Numbers of what players are getting to show up has blown up to be honest": Taylor Fritz calls Six Kings Slam participation fees widely exaggerated

Thursday, 12 November 2026 at 11:19

Taylor Fritz will take part in the Six Kings Slam, and while it was reported that the amounts for each player amounted to $1,500,000, that number is supposedly very much exaggerated by the media, according to the American.

Fritz spoke to Bolavip and said that the actual amount that players receive simply for playing in the event is actually a lot lower, but that there is scope to go higher when it comes to the amount earned if they manage to go far in the event.

Saudi Arabia participation fees wide of the mark - Fritz

The exhibition in Saudi Arabia was a bit of a question mark this year given that the event was postponed earlier in the year due to the security concerns following attacks in Riyadh, and also Saudi Arabia has cut ties with multiple sports as of late, pulling money out of events. But the Six Kings Slam has returned again.

Several of the top tennis stars will be involved, including Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner – the latter was widely expected not to be involved due to his injury, with Learner Tien mooted to take his spot. But he will seemingly play anyway.

Asked about the event and his decision to play in Saudi Arabia, Fritz said that it is more of a warm-up on his part for the new season than anything else, despite money likely being a major motivation behind that.

Taylor Fritz hits a backhand from the baseline.

Fritz says reports wide of the mark.

Albeit Fritz said that the financial rewards that were widely circulated on social media are pretty wide of the mark, and he challenged some of the figures that he had seen posted on social media.

“I mean, I think the Six Kings Slam is an opportunity to play against the best players in the world in a big event, and I think it's even better now that it's been moved, and going forward it will also be at the start of the season, so I think it's a great warm-up before the season starts," he said to Bolavip.

Asked also about safety given the security situation in Riyadh and postponing of the exhibition in its first instance, he said that he has not spent much time considering this but that he intends to follow the other players and their experiences while out there.

“In terms of safety, I think I will just pretty much follow the other players. There is no point in really talking about it now, because there is a good amount of time until then, but mostly I will be trusting the vibe from the other players.”

Fritz also was asked about the prize money and said that the participation fees have been exaggerated and there is a difference between showing up and getting paid vast sums of money and what they are actually being paid.

"It's not as much money to participate as the news outlets and rumours have reported. It's not that much at all, but it is a lot for winning. There is a lot of prize money, just like every other tournament, so it doesn't really feel like an exhibition; it feels like a real event with a lot of pressure.”

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“A lot of money for winning, for sure, but a lot of the numbers of what players are getting to show up have blown up to be honest with you."

Samuel GillEditor-in-Chief

Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of TennisUpToDate.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces across the TennisUpToDate network, playing a central role in the daily operation and development of the site.

Based in Leicester, Samuel has a broad background in tennis media. In his current role, he works closely with editors and writers to ensure coverage meets clear journalistic standards, with particular attention to verification, consistency, and timely updates when new information becomes available.

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