Jannik Sinner disenchanted Carlos Alcaraz in the next final between the two best tennis players in the world and won the million-dollar jackpot at the Six Kings Slam in Saudi Arabia.
The Italian won the final of the rich invitation tournament in Riyadh after a dominant performance 6:2, 6:4. Sinner only needed 73 minutes to successfully defend his title and the associated $4.5 million in prize money for the winner.
Including the $1.5 million entry fee, Sinner takes home $6 million – more than in any of his four Grand Slam victories.
This year, Sinner and Alcaraz had already met in the finals of the French Open and US Open as well as at Wimbledon. The 24-year-old Sinner prevailed in London, as well as at the Australian Open against Alexander Zverev. Sinner and Alcaraz share the last eight Grand Slam titles equally.
It is Sinner’s second title at the Six Kings Slam. He also prevailed against his Spanish rival at the premiere of the show event last year. There are no world ranking points to be won in Riyadh, but thanks to the Saudi sovereign wealth fund, the winner will have more prize money than at any individual tournament on the professional tour.
Zverev out in the quarterfinals
The world number one Alcaraz had won the semi-final easily in two sets against the American Taylor Fritz, Sinner had moved into the final after two-set victories against the Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas and the Serbian Grand Slam record winner Novak Djokovic. Zverev from Hamburg had simply failed against Fritz at the start of the quarter-finals.
Fritz secured third place in Riyadh – but also benefited from Djokovic’s task. The visibly exhausted Serb ended the game early after the first set, which lasted 1:16 hours. Fritz won this with 7:6 (7:4). A total of $13.5 million was distributed in Riyadh.