At the Six Kings Slam in Riyadh, Jannik Sinner defeated Carlos Alcaraz, Daniil Medvedev and Novak Djokovic to win a tournament that included eye-catching cash prizes for the winner. In fact, the tournament’s prize pool is the highest of all ATP events and the four Grand Slams.
Sinner won $6 million in prize money, but said he was motivated not by money but by the opportunity to play with the best players in the world.
“I don’t play for money, it’s very simple. Of course, it’s a great prize. I went there and there were probably six of the best players in the world, and I played for myself with them. Of course, when you came back as a winner for me, it was rather okay, I played the game the right way, and this will improve me as a player for the future as well. I hope we can do that,” Sinner told Eurosport.
The battle between Sinner and Alcaraz is rapidly escalating into a generation-defining rivalry. With Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal retiring from the sport and Novak Djokovic entering his final days as an elite Slam winner, life after the Big 3 looks set to change between Sinner and Alcaraz as they race to Grand Slam titles. It’s starting to look like a new climb up. The Italian defeated Alcaraz in Riyadh, but insisted the Spaniard may have more than that at the moment.
“We are two completely different players. He maintains a very high pace and is mentally strong. He is also physically strong and tennis-wise he has more than that at the moment. : He plays slices and volleys better. But for me that’s a positive fact. It means Carlos on the court does numbers like drop shots, passing shots, lobs. I don’t know if I’ll be that way either. But as a tennis player I’m more solid and can accelerate the win when I need it,” Sinner told La Stampa.
