A match that we will likely see many more times past their Head to Head record,
Carlos Alcaraz will face
Jannik Sinner on Saturday evening (19 October) at the
Six Kings Slam in Riyadh for the $6,000,000 top prize and bragging rights as the first ever winner.
Our
preview looks ahead to the final between the two players lauded as the next two to cement themselves as the sport's leading lights and one that perhaps doesn't favour Sinner as much as it does Alcaraz.
Sublime Sinner's superb season
Jannik Sinner comes in to the final of the Six Kings Slam with the ATP Finals, Paris Masters and Davis Cup Finals still on his slate before his season ends. But despite issues with a doping appeal hanging over his head, it has been very much the best year of his life.
He has won seven titles this season including his first two Grand Slam titles and he will end the campaign as World Number One which has been confirmed already weeks before the season ends. He also added to that haul recently by winning the Shanghai Masters defeating Novak Djokovic in the fuel. He also defeated Nole during the Six Kings Slam in the semi-finals and could've had it sewn up more comfortably sans a lack of concentration in the middle of the tie handing the greatest opportunity taker a chance to hit back.
But he also left Daniil Medvedev utterly bamboozled during his opener and will be the favourite on paper to collect the $6,000,000 cheque which is on offer which dwarfs his winnings from the US Open. A potential issue though awaits with Alcaraz who has had his number throughout their fledgling rivalry thus far.
Awesome Alcaraz aims to add Six Kings to his resume
Carlos Alcaraz opened up his campaign with a superb win over Holger Rune 6-4, 6-2 in the Quarter-Finals. In the Semi-Finals, he faced compatriot Rafael Nadal and largely controlled the match against an opponent who believed he played well but was no match for the prowess of 'Carlitos'.
Although Nadal played well at times, Alcaraz remained in control sealing a 6-3, 6-3 win to book his spot in the final. But it has been an interesting latter half to the season for Alcaraz as he sealed Beijing defeating Sinner ironically in the final. This after spending some weeks complaining about the schedule and the lack of rest time.
Sinner and Alcaraz met a matter of weeks ago in their latest clash.
This was despite Alcaraz signing up for such tournaments as the Six Kings Slam and also the Laver Cup, playing a full schedule in Asia and also next month playing the Davis Cup. A point of contention when it comes to Sinner and Alcaraz with the Italian himself not really minding aside from perhaps the Davis Cup which he wasn't a fan of.
But Alcaraz at times has struggled to emulate the same form that saw him win titles at the French Open, Wimbledon and Indian Wells. He has not had the same consistency or rhythm. But with the ATP Finals and also the Paris Masters prior to that to come, it is very much the time to gain form especially with a short turnaround time before next season.
Head to Head
Carlos Alcaraz holds a 6-4 lead in terms of Head to Head over Sinner and has had his number in particular during his rise in the past year.
Their most recent meeting came just a few weeks ago in the final of the China Open where Alcaraz made a comeback from a set down to seal a 6-7(6), 6-4, 7-6(3) win.
Prize Money
Players will not earn ranking points. It takes place over four days with play on three to circumnavigate the ATP rules on playing non sanctioned events.
Each of the six players is guaranteed at minimum $1,500,000 USD with the winner taking home the largest prize in tennis history, $6,000,000 USD. This is almost double the prize money for a Grand Slam champion.
TV Guide
The tournament will be streamed live on DAZN in over 200 countries and for free also, all that is needed to watch this tournament is an account
through the streaming platform.
It is in partnership with Riyadh Season who have ben staging huge sporting events including boxing across the globe. As well as those channels, it is shown on Sky Sports as well as Tennis Channel in the UK and US. Both signed late broadcast deals in order to show the tournament so it will be shown worldwide wherever tennis fans are.