By Fahad Hamid,Total Apex Sports
Copyright yardbarker
Of course, this isn’t really about tennis rankings or fair play. It’s about star power and drawing viewers. Djokovic is the GOAT with 24 Grand Slams, and Alcaraz is the current world No. 1. The Saudi organizers clearly think these two names sell more tickets and generate more Netflix views than giving the defending champion his due respect.
But here’s the thing that makes this whole situation even more ridiculous: Sinner is guaranteed $1.5 million just for showing up, same as everyone else. The winner takes home an additional $4.5 million, making the total prize a staggering $6 million. So while the money is the same, the path to earning it certainly isn’t equal.
A Tournament That Can’t Read the Room
The Six Kings Slam has a history of making questionable decisions that tick off fans. Last year, people were upset about Holger Rune’s inclusion. This year, they’re questioning Tsitsipas stepping in for the injured Jack Draper. And now, the defending champion gets treated like an afterthought. At what point do the organizers realize they’re alienating the very fans who make this tournament relevant?
One defender of the draw argued that Alcaraz and Djokovic earned their spots through their Grand Slam achievements. Fair enough, but that completely misses the point. Sinner didn’t just stumble into last year’s title—he earned it by beating the same Carlos Alcaraz who’s now getting preferential treatment.
The whole situation reeks of politics over performance, marketing over merit. Sinner has proven he belongs at the top of the tennis world. He’s currently ranked No. 2, has won multiple Grand Slams, and literally conquered this exact tournament just months ago. Yet somehow, he’s being treated like he needs to prove himself all over again.
What This Means for Sinner’s Title Defense
Despite the organizational disrespect, Sinner remains dangerous as hell. His first match against Tsitsipas should be manageable, assuming the Greek can even make it onto the court healthy. The real test comes in a potential semifinal against Djokovic, which could actually be more intriguing than a final would be.
But here’s where the politics get really stupid: if Sinner manages to navigate this ridiculous bracket and defend his title, he’ll have done so by beating more opponents than anyone else. That should make his potential victory even sweeter, right? Unfortunately, it also means more opportunities for things to go wrong.
The Bottom Line
The 2025 Six Kings Slam kicks off October 15 at Riyadh’s ANB Arena, and despite all the drama, Sinner will be there with something to prove. The defending champion has been disrespected by the organizers, but that might just fuel his fire to repeat as champion.
Tennis fans have every right to be livid about this draw. When you create a tournament where the defending champion gets less favorable treatment than players who didn’t even compete the previous year, you’ve lost the plot entirely. The Six Kings Slam organizers better hope Sinner doesn’t use this snub as motivation to embarrass their golden boys on court.
Because if there’s one thing we know about Sinner, it’s that he performs best when he’s got something to prove. And right now, he’s got plenty.
