“The prize money is insane”: Jessica Pegula on Six Kings Slam’s $1.5M show-up fee

The Six Kings Slam has quickly become one of the most talked-about events in tennis. Combining the glamour of an exhibition with the rewards of a Grand Slam, the 2025 edition not only gathered six of the sport’s biggest names but also set new financial standards for what a non-tour event can offer. Each participant was guaranteed a staggering US$1.5 million just for showing up, while the winner took home an additional $4.5 million — for a total of $6 million.

That kind of payout didn’t go unnoticed by Jessica Pegula and Jennifer Brady, who discussed the event on The Players Box podcast with their trademark humor and honesty. “The prize money is insane. 1.5 million for showing up,” said Pegula, still sounding stunned by the numbers. Brady immediately jumped in: “Winner gets 6 million, 1.5 million to just show up, I don’t think I’d say no!”

Their laughter reflected what many players might quietly think — that the Six Kings Slam is changing the conversation about how exhibitions fit into professional tennis. The event’s mix of elite talent, colossal payouts, and slick presentation has sparked both fascination and debate within the sport.

This year’s lineup was announced in August 2025, but it wasn’t without drama: Jack Draper, one of the original six, suffered a season-ending arm injury and was replaced by Stefanos Tsitsipas. The tournament structure granted Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic first-round byes, setting up a knockout-style format that guaranteed high-profile matchups from the start.

In the end, the final produced a familiar clash between the world’s top two players — defending champion Jannik Sinner and world No. 1 Alcaraz. Just as he did the previous year, Sinner emerged victorious, defeating Alcaraz in straight sets (6–2, 6–4) to claim back-to-back titles. Meanwhile, Taylor Fritz secured third place after Djokovic retired following a tight opening set (7–5, 6–7 [4–7]).

The champion’s trophy was as extravagant as the paychecks — a life-size 24-karat gold racket weighing four kilograms, identical to the one presented to Rafael Nadal upon his retirement. With spectacle at every turn, it’s no surprise that the Six Kings Slam has captured both the public’s imagination and the envy of some peers.

The exclusivity of the Six Kings Slam — six players, one replacement, and millions on the line — also raised questions about opportunity and access. Pegula herself touched on that side of the story. “Do you think when Draper pulled out, everybody was fighting for that spot?” she asked Brady.

Brady didn’t hesitate: “Oh 100%, clawing, hands and knees.”

As their conversation continued, Pegula was asked whether a women’s equivalent — the so-called Six Queens Slam — could ever fit into the tennis calendar. “I think people would make room for that,” she said. “I don’t know, though. I don’t see why not.”

Brady agreed, but with a pointed observation about how women’s events often follow trends set by the men. “I mean I don't see why not. Yeah. Like they have. But I feel like the women are always just like following. You know, it's like, oh, somebody makes — the men make this event like Laver Cup, right? And it's like people are talking, oh, should there be a female version of Laver Cup? And then it’s like, oh, should there be a female version of the Six Kings Slam? So, I feel like the women need to come up with something before the men — that way it’s not like us following.”

Her comment struck a chord. The women’s tour has long discussed ways to develop more original showcase formats, rather than simply mirroring ATP innovations. A Six Queens Slam could offer that chance — but as Brady implied, the key would be to make it an initiative born from within the WTA, not as a response.