Jannik Sinner wins $6 million in Saudi Arabia exhibition

Jannik Sinner has won the largest prize money in tennis history, defeating Carlos Alcaraz in the final of the Six Kings Slam in Riyadh on Saturday evening to claim a purse of $6 million.

The Italian bags a total of $7.5 million for his three matches in Saudi Arabia, having defeated Daniil Medvedev and Novak Djokovic earlier in the tennis exhibition.

Sinner was a slight favourite at tennis betting sites to prevail in his fourth meeting against Alcaraz this year, and for the first time in 2024, he was successful, winning 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-3 in an ebb-and-flow affair.

The world No.1 began the faster of the pair, racing out to a 4-1 lead early in the opening set.

Alcaraz clawed his way back into the tennis match, however, breaking back and returning the first set to serve. It remained that way for the next five games, sending the clash to a tiebreaker – the same way their most recent meeting in Beijing ended.

Again, Alcaraz prevailed, edging out Sinner 7-5 to take a set lead.

In the second set, it was déjà vu as Sinner broke early once more, and again, Alcaraz broke back to level midway through the set.

This time, Sinner would find another level, striking with more consistency than his opponent to win 13 of the next 16 points from 3-3, breaking Alcaraz twice to win the second set.

Sinner’s greater consistency and Alcaraz’s errors would define the deciding set as well, with a pair of double faults in the eighth game handing Sinner a crucial break.

Clinical serving took the Italian across the line, giving him his fifth winner over the Spaniard.

After the match, Sinner called his budding rivalry with Alcaraz “a mix of everything”, explaining how it drives him to be a better player.

“It’s these kinds of rivalries and these kinds of players that push us always to our 100% limits,” he reflected after the victory.

“I wake up in the morning trying to understand the ways how to beat him.

“Until now every match [between us] was very, very good, level wise.

“Hopefully this rivalry will last as long as possible, but there are so many other players who can jump in and this is also so exciting.

“Let’s see what is coming in the future, no one can tell.”

Alcaraz echoed Sinner’s sentiment as he spoke in the post-match ceremony.

“Thanks to him I push myself to the limit.” he said.

“I give my 100% every day to be a better player.

“It’s a pleasure every time I share the court with him.

“Sometimes it’s tough to find the joy.

“But it’s great every time I face him.”

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