PREVIEW Six Kings Slam Final: Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz set for showdown in Riyadh

For the second consecutive year, Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz are set to clash in the Saudi Arabian capital of Riyadh with a large prize pot on offer in the Six Kings Slam final. Sinner defeated Alcaraz in an exhilerating final last year, with the Spaniard looking to keep up his clinical record against the world number two.

It is another final matchup between the duo, who comfortably disposed of everone in their path, asserting their dominance in men's tennis once more. The final will be competed on 18th October 19:00 BST, with the winner taking home $6 million.

After an uncharacterisitc early exit in the Shanghai Masters due to cramping in his leg, Sinner is back on track with another final in a competition he has entered in 2025. Shanghai and Halle are the only two locations not to see the Italian compete for the coverted title if his name was on the starting list.

A second Six Kings Slam final has been added to the four Grand Slam, Two Masters 1000 and 500 final in Beijing. He has won three of these finals, with just one coming against Alcaraz. Four final defeats to his arch rival is deeply concerning, but he now has the chance to put things right once more and get one over on the world number one.

He entered the event a round earlier than Alcaraz, facing off against late entry Stefanos Tsitsipas. He made light work of the former world number three ahead of a fascinating clash against Novak Djokovic. The 24-time Grand Slam champion has seen to be the best of the rest, but even he could not even get close to the 24-year-old. Sinner dropped just four points on his serve in the first set, before storming into a double break to leave himself in a commanding position for the match. He secured a second final in Riyadh with a 6-4, 6-2 victory.

Unlike Sinner, Alcaraz comes into this event after winning a title, defeating Taylor Fritz in the Japan Open. He tactically skipped the Masters 1000 event in Shanghai to make sure he was fit and fresh for what was going to be thrown at him in the final stages of the 2025 campaign.

He recently stole Sinner's number one tag at the US Open, and has the chance to streak further clear in the coming events. However, with no ranking points on offer in this exhibition event, the 22-year-old cannot gain anything from his rival other than another triumph over him in the last stage of the tournament.

The Spaniard sat out the first round, awaiting the winner of either Alexander Zverev or Fritz. It would be the American who Alcaraz would come up against for a spot in the final, who happened to be the last person to leave the court against Alcaraz victorious, defeating him in the Laver Cup. He got his revenge in Tokyo and exerted more authority over the world number four in a 6-4, 6-2 win. A very even first set was nudged in Alcaraz's favour after he broke the Fritz's serve halfway through. Right after the American number one missed the chance to break the serve in the second set, Alcaraz won five games on the spin to sprint to the finish line.

2024 Roland Garros was the last time the pair did not compete in a final against each other, with Alcaraz defeating Sinner in a thrilling match enroute to his maiden Roland Garros title. In 2025, they have mat on the court five times. While Sinner took the Wimbledon title from Alcaraz's grasp, the Spaniard won Roland Garros, the US Open, Rome Open and Cincinnati Open.

These victories have boosted Alcaraz's tally over his on-court rival to 11-6. With recent form a huge factor for Alcaraz's ominous lead, Sinner is in desperate need to get back on the right track against the five-time Grand Slam champion.