The Six Kings Slam has confirmed the draw for its third edition, with Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic once again receiving protected status and entering the lucrative Riyadh exhibition at the semifinal stage. The event will return on October 21, 22 and 24, with Jannik Sinner beginning his title defence against Alex de Minaur and Alexander Zverev facing Taylor Fritz in the quarterfinals.
Alcaraz will then face the winner of Zverev and Fritz, recreating one of the matchups from last year's event. Fritz defeated Zverev in the 2025 quarterfinals before losing to Alcaraz in the semifinals, while Sinner went on to defeat the Spaniard in the final for his second consecutive Six Kings Slam title.
The other semifinal path will see Djokovic face either Sinner or De Minaur. The Australian is making his Six Kings Slam debut after replacing Stefanos Tsitsipas in this year's six-man field, while Sinner returns to Riyadh as the two-time defending champion. The Italian has also dominated his meetings with De Minaur, although the official head-to-head record is currently unbeaten in Sinner's favour.
The tournament will once again feature only three days of competition, with the quarterfinals scheduled for Wednesday, the semifinals on Thursday and the final on Saturday. A third-place match will also be played on the final night, meaning Alcaraz and Djokovic are guaranteed at least two appearances even if they lose their semifinal.
Alcaraz and Djokovic receive another advantage
The decision to give Alcaraz and Djokovic direct access to the semifinals follows the same format used in 2025. It means both players avoid the opening round, while the other four competitors must win a quarterfinal to earn a place in the final four.
For Alcaraz, the event offers another opportunity to challenge Sinner in a setting where the Italian has so far had the upper hand. The pair contested the first Six Kings Slam final in 2024, when Sinner recovered from losing the opening set to win 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-3. They met again in the 2025 final, with Sinner producing a dominant 6-2, 6-4 victory.
Sinner's second title was particularly notable because it came only weeks after Alcaraz had defeated him in the US Open final. The Italian responded in Riyadh and collected $6 million, consisting of a $1.5 million participation payment and a further $4.5 million for winning the exhibition.
The Six Kings Slam is not an ATP Tour tournament and does not award ranking points, but its financial incentive has made it one of the most prominent exhibition events in the sport. Each player receives a guaranteed participation payment, while the champion takes home the largest single tournament payday currently available in men's tennis.
جدول بطولة six kings slam:
— عالم الكرة الصفراء 🎾 (@Tennis_World20) September 30, 2026
الاربعاء 21 اكتوبر:
🇩🇪 زفيريف vs فريتز 🇺🇸
🇮🇹 سينر vs دي مينور 🇦🇺
الخميس 22 اكتوبر:
الفائز من مباراة 1 vs الكاراز 🇪🇸
الفائز من مباراة 2 vs جوكوفيتش 🇷🇸
جوكوفيتش والكاراز مضمون بأن يلعبا مباراتين على الاقل في البطولة حتى في حال خسارة نصف النهائي. https://t.co/msoj5rflt4 pic.twitter.com/Wxg63NbxYH
Previous Six Kings Slam finals
| Year | Final | Score | Champion |
| 2024 | Jannik Sinner vs Carlos Alcaraz | 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-3 | Jannik Sinner |
| 2025 | Jannik Sinner vs Carlos Alcaraz | 6-2, 6-4 | Jannik Sinner |
Sinner will start his attempt to win the Six Kings Slam for a third consecutive year against De Minaur on Wednesday, October 21. The Australian replaces Tsitsipas, who featured in the 2025 edition, while Zverev and Fritz will contest the other quarterfinal.
The Zverev-Fritz matchup will immediately bring back memories of last year's tournament. Fritz won their 2025 quarterfinal 6-3, 6-4 in less than an hour before Alcaraz defeated him 6-4, 6-2 in the semifinals. Fritz therefore arrives with a route to repeating last
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There are still some doubts over Sinner’s participation, considering his recent injury that has kept him out of competition since Wimbledon. He is expected to return during the indoor tournaments, although his team has yet to confirm his presence at the Shanghai Masters.
Some reports have also cast doubt on his appearance at his subsequent commitments, including the Vienna Open, Paris Masters and Six Kings Slam, but no official information has emerged from Sinner’s team.
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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