The
Six Kings Slam is set to play between October 16 and 17, featuring
Jannik Sinner,
Novak Djokovic, and the highly anticipated return of
Rafael Nadal, among others. The tournament will take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and here we detail how to follow the TV broadcasts.
With an incredible short movie as a promotional video, the tournament has generated great excitement, especially due to the stellar draw. Two quarter-final matches will be played, and two ‘seeded’ players will await their semi-final opponents.
Full TV broadcast details and star players
In recent
weeks, several ATP and WTA players have criticized the demanding Tour schedule,
particularly the mandatory tournaments, which include 8 of the 9 Masters 1000,
four ATP 500 events, and the four Grand Slams. Additionally, players who
qualify for the ATP Finals are obligated to participate.
Alcaraz was
one of those who criticized the ATP's schedule, although he has been part of
several exhibitions. Alcaraz participated in the Netflix Slam a few months ago
against Rafael Nadal and was recently part of Team Europe for the Laver Cup.
The Six King Slam will be followed by an exhibition at Madison Square Garden
alongside Ben Shelton, and then in Charlotte Tennis Association against Frances
Tiafoe.
On the
other hand, Sinner acknowledged that despite the long list of mandatory
tournaments: "It is a very busy schedule this year; there are a lot of
tournaments. You don't have to play a tournament. If you want, you can play. If
not, you don't play. For example, last year and also this year, I didn't play
some tournaments because I wanted to practice. There are some choices behind
this."
Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic at the Olympic Games 2024
Nevertheless,
both will be present at the Six King Slam in Saudi Arabia in mid-October. The
first quarter-final match will see Jannik Sinner face
Daniil Medvedev, while
the second quarter-final will feature
Carlos Alcaraz against
Holger Rune.
Djokovic
awaits the winner of Medvedev/Sinner in the top half of the draw, while Rafael
Nadal will face either Rune or Alcaraz in the semi-finals. The exhibition will
also feature a third-place match and a final, so both Djokovic and Nadal are
guaranteed at least two matches.
Fans in
Riyadh won't be the only ones watching, as Dazn has secured the global
broadcasting rights. According to City AM, it’s still unclear if Dazn will hold
exclusive rights, though no other broadcaster has been confirmed, making it
likely the sole platform available. Dazn has previously secured deals to
broadcast various sports, including boxing, snooker, and MMA in Saudi Arabia.
Dazn is
currently available in the following countries: Germany, Austria, Brazil,
Switzerland, Italy, Spain, the United States, Canada, and Japan.