Andy Roddick is coming to Jannik Sinner's defense as the 2003 US Open champion says there are good reasons to believe that the 23-year-old was telling the truth when he said that he didn't go to a star-studded Saudi Arabia for major money.
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In case you missed it, the 23-year-old collected the biggest-ever tournament prize money in tennis history after winning the Six Kings Slams in October. By just coming to Riyadh, the world No. 1 pocketed a very nice $1.5 million. And after going 3-3 there and winning the title, he earned an additional $6 million - which brought the total to a stunning $7.5 million. The exhibition event lasted four days.
Besides Sinner, there were five other big names competing - Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Carlos Alcaraz, Daniil Medvedev, and Holger Rune. Before and during the tournament, pretty much all of them received certain criticism because some felt that they easily signed up for the event because there was a huge payday guaranteed.
And since was the one who went home with the biggest part of cake, he was the one that received the most attention. But when asked about it, the two-time Grand Slam champion insisted his primary goal in Saudi Arabia was to get some good action rather than collect big money.
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I dont play for money. Its very simple. Of course, its a nice prize and everything but for me, I went there because there were possibly the six best players in the world. And then you can measure yourself with them. It was also a nice event for me. It was the first time I went to Riyadh and it was nice. When you come back as a winner, for me, it was more that, okay, I played the matches in the right way and this hopefully can improve me as a player also for the future," the Italian tennis star told Eurosport following his Saudi triumph.
After making those comments on Saudi money, the 23-year-old was even ridiculed by some and also accused of simply providing a politically-correct answer.
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Roddick: Sinner doesn't act like someone who goes about it for money...
The 42-year-old American agrees that some players probably went to Saudi Arabia for money. But when it specifically comes to the current world No. 1, he explains why there are reasons to believe that he wasn't lying.
"He said something like, 'Tennis for me isn't about the money.' But obviously, Saudi was about [the money]... there was a collective eye-roll about it, but I think his point was obviously if you go to Saudi, you're going for work reasons, right? Quickest payday he'll ever have. Three days, six million, bingo-bango. I don't think five days of action supplants him not thinking about money one time during the US Open semifinals. I honestly find it hard to believe if he knew how much he would win for a semifinal or like a Masters 1000," the American tennis legend said on the Served With Andy Roddick podcast.
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"I don't really think he knows that. He doesn't act like someone who goes about it for money. And for four days, massive cash grab, and I do think a lot of people got that backwards. Two things can be true. You go somewhere for five days for a cash grab, but his [priorities] are his scheduling, when he's training, when he's doing all those things."
Alcaraz openly admitted he went to Riyadh for money
In the Six Kings Slam final, the Spanish tennis star was a set away from winning the title and being the one going home with the historic prize money. Sadly for him, he didn't manage to close out the match after Sinner completed a 6-7 (5) 6-3 6-3 win.
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Later, Alcaraz was also asked if he went to Saudi Arabia because of a huge payday. And he admitted the cheque was absolutely one of the reasons why he agreed to play in Riyadh.
Well, I mean, if I say I went there just for fun or to play and forget the money, Im gonna lie. Thats obviously. I mean, every person work for that, as well. You know, thats how life is about. You know, I love playing tennis. You know, most of the time I dont think about the money. I just play for love or for fun. But you have to be realistic. You have to think that you want to earn money, you know, and thats it. You know, in Arabia is the most highest prize money ever in the history, so that was a good motivation, at least for me," the 22-year-old admitted.
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Alcaraz's open confession was one of the reasons why some didn't believe Sinner.
