World no. 1 Jannik Sinner wrote history books at the Six Kings Slam in Riyadh, scoring three top-5 wins and taking home $6 million, the greatest prize money in tennis history. Speaking about his Riyadh adventure ahead of the Paris Masters, the Italian insisted the huge financial boost was not the reason for his playing the six-man exhibition. Sinner wanted to embrace challenges against the toughest opponents and improve his game. The two-time Major winner reflected on his health and family as his main priorities, keeping the Riyadh prize money in the second plan.
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Jannik bagels Daniil Medvedev
The Italian faced Daniil Medvedev in the quarter-final of the Six Kings Slam and earned a dominant 6-0, 6-3 victory in 70 minutes, arranging the clash against Novak Djokovic. Jannik played flawless tennis and left Daniil powerless, dominating on serve and return and making a winning start. They met for the second time within a week, and Sinner gathered all the numbers to his side. The Russian struggled behind the second serve and faced 18 break points. He defended 13 but fell behind after getting broken five times. Jannik saved four break points in the eighth game of the second set and five overall, keeping his initial shot intact and sailing over the finish line.
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Sinner tops Novak Djokovic, reaches final
World no. 1 battled against the 24-time Major winner Novak Djokovic in the semi-final and prevailed 6-2, 6-7, 6-4 in just under two and a half hours, setting the title clash against Carlos Alcaraz. Jannik and Novak met four days after their Shanghai Masters final, and the Italian extended his streak against the greatest player of all time. Unlike their two official matches this year, Djokovic broke Sinner's serve three times, overcoming a slow start but falling in the decider. Jannik generated 14 break points, seizing six and moving over the top after keeping his composure in the closing stages of the final set. World no. 1 served well in the opener, providing four fine holds and delivering two breaks for 6-2.
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They traded early breaks in the second set and served well in the remaining ones, introducing a tie break. Djokovic dominated and claimed it 7-0, introducing a decider and gaining a boost. They traded early breaks in the final set, and Novak stayed on the positive side after surviving four break points in game five. Jannik defended two break points in the sixth game and grabbed a break in the next one for a 4-3 lead. The Serb made one last push on the return in game eight, pulling the break back and locking the result at 4-4. The veteran could not build on that, spraying a couple of errors in the ninth game and losing serve. Sinner served for the win at 5-4 and landed an ace on a match point, advancing into the title clash.
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Sinner tops Carlos Alcaraz, wins $6 million
The world's best players battled in the Six Kings Slam final, and Jannik ousted Carlos 6-7, 6-3, 6-3 in two hours and 20 minutes, clinching the trophy and the prize money of $6 million! Alcaraz prevailed in the opener before Sinner shifted into a higher gear, delivering four breaks in sets two and three to celebrate the title. The Italian made a stronger start, serving well and firing a forehand crosscourt winner in the fourth game for a 3-1 lead. Jannik produced another fine hold in the fifth game, doing everything right in the early stages. The Spaniard launched his comeback and pulled the break back in game seven, erasing the deficit and fending off a break point in the next one to lock the result at 4-4.
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Carlos bypassed deuces in the tenth game and introduced a tie break after a hold at love at 5-6. Jannik bounced back from 2-5 before spraying a forehand error in the 12th point, allowing world no. 2 to clinch the opener in 66 minutes. Sinner responded with three breaks in the second set, building an early advantage and missing an opportunity to forge a massive lead. Alcaraz survived break points at 1-3 and pulled the break back in the sixth game, removing to the positive side. Instead of building on that, the Spaniard experienced breaks in games seven and nine, allowing the Italian to clinch the set 6-3 and force a decider. With a boost on his side, Jannik provided five comfortable holds in the second set, mounting the pressure on the other side. World no. 1 secured a decisive break at 4-3 and held in game nine, emerging at the top and earning the biggest prize money in tennis history.
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"I do not play for money; it's very simple. Of course, it's nice prize money and everything, but I went to Riyadh because they gathered the world's best players, and you could measure your game against them. I visited Riyadh for the first time, and it was nice to win the title. I played well, which can help me in the future. The money is important, but not that much. I live a good life without that money, and I'm focused on my health and family and great people around me," Jannik Sinner said.
