Jannik Sinner beat Carlos Alcaraz in the Six Kings Slam final 6-2, 6-4 to win the £4.47million prize money and exact revenge on the world No. 1 after losing the US Open. The exhibition tournament is the most lucrative event of the tennis season, which Sinner has now won in back-to-back years.
Seven weeks after Alcaraz won 6-2, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 at Arthur Ashe Stadium, Sinner responded with a dominant performance in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. He won the match’s first three points, breaking his opponent in the first game to lay down an early marker before taking the first set inside 30 minutes.
Sinner took the first set inside 30 minutes, but the US Open champion improved in the second, holding his first two games. Alcaraz, however, had to save four break points in the fifth before being broken in the seventh as the Italian cruised to victory.
Speaking afterwards in a joint on-court interview, the Spaniard said: “Sometimes it seems like he’s playing ping pong. It’s not funny being on the other side of the net.”
Sinner, who has now won six straight matches in the Six Kings Slam, said: “I wish I could play like this everywhere,” before adding: “It’s always nice to share the court with Carlos.
“To see you here with your whole team, you have done an incredible job throughout the whole season. Working very hard, winning title after title; thanks for leaving one for me.”
Alcaraz also spoke about what he takes from Sinner’s performances. “I always say that when he plays such great tennis, it gives me motivation to go to the practice court, give my 100%, and try to be better,” the world No.1 said. “It’s kind of a mix. Sometimes he’s annoying, but at the same time, he gives me extra motivation.”
Sinner shared a similar sentiment: “You think a lot about that. That’s exactly why you need Carlos and many other players, to keep improving, to keep looking up to certain players. Especially for me, this is Carlos, because especially this season, we played many times. I lost many times against Carlos. It’s a huge pleasure and honour to share the court with him. At the same time, you want to get better as a tennis player.
“You need rivalries. It’s nice to have a great rivalry, more importantly, a great friendship off court; we have a very, very special friendship; it’s very nice.”