Six Kings Slam Round-Up: Jannik Sinner thrashes Stefanos Tsitsipas as Djokovic awaits, Taylor Fritz set for Alcaraz meeting

The opening night of the Six Kings Slam in Saudi Arabia has concluded with Jannik Sinner and Taylor Fritz as expected moving through to ties against Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz in Riyadh.

The exhibition which sees top names duke it out for more money than the majors dish out saw Zverev and Tsitsipas turn up for literal millions to lose in the opening game as the top names lived to fight another day.

It was pretty simple for Sinner in the opening set as he sealed it 6-2. Tsitsipas started poorly and grew into the set but in reality it was too late in order for him to really salvage a lead. Sinner swatted away a smash to bring up set point as Sinner made his first double fault of the contest. Sinner got a second chance and took it. Tsitsipas pushed a backhand wide as Sinner took the one handed approach of Tsitsipas to the letter. Sinner wrapped it up in 36 minutes but in reality could've been quicker.

Immediately in the second he broke for 1-0 and the bounce on the court being ridiculous meant that Sinner managed to go 2-0 up quite quickly. He broke again as he hit a net-cord but left Tsitsipas rooted with a drop shot. He brought up break point and Sinner took over the point behind his backhand for 3-0.

Sinner's footwork was on full show as he ran around a forehand and hit a winner down the line followed by an ace before making it 4-2. He went one away with a love hold and sensed his chance to perfection as he shut the door and sealed the win over Tsitsipas.

Next up will be Novak Djokovic, a match that he hopes will live up to the billing and that both will put on a real show in Riyadh.

"We all hope it’s a good match. This is all we hope for. We know each other very well… we’ve played many, many times. It’s great to share the court again with Novak. Especially here in front of you guys. We’ll just try to play the best possible tennis we can. We’ll just see how it goes. Mostly, we are here to enjoy. To bring tennis here. All we hope is that you guys enjoy. That’s why we’re here," he said post match.

In the opening match of the night, Taylor Fritz continued to have the number of Alexander Zverev as he cleaned out the German 6-3, 6-4 to reach the semi-finals of the Six Kings Slam in Riyadh as he awaits a certain Carlos Alcaraz.

The World No.4 defeated World No.3 Zverev for the seventh straight time although this is not an official match so it doesn't count towards their respective Head-to-Head record. Fritz hit eight aces and made a real difference on his first serve. He denied all three break points in the only service game and mounted pressure on the other side of the net.

Zverev served at around 82% but he failed to gain the advantage as he played against four break points and lost his serve once in each set. Fritz stole the serve in the second game of the tie. He held in the next one for 3-0 and held for 4-1.

He survived three break point chances in the fifth game surviving a scare and Fritz then served for the opener at 5-3 and held with a smash winner. The World No.4 was comfortable in the final set and kept the pressure up on the other side. He moved closer to the finishing line from there. He delivered four commanding holds and held with an ace at 5-4 to move into the last four.

Despite his next opponent Alcaraz being injured, it's not a tie he takes lightly. “It’s physical, it’s tough. I have to play my best against Carlos and you have to fight to keep up with his level.”