Six Kings Slam heralds new era for tennis in Saudi Arabia

RIYADH. Some of the biggest names in men’s tennis have arrived in Riyadh for the Six Kings Slam, the latest exhibition event to be held in the Kingdom.

The tournament underscores the country’s ambition to become a leading destination for elite sporting events, and the six players taking part — Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic Daniil Medvedev, Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner and Holger Rune — are well aware of the role they have to play in that.

Medvedev, who is taking part in his third event in Saudi Arabia, told Arab News: “Tournaments like this are vital for developing tennis in the region. The infrastructure has improved significantly since my first visit here and I can see that this event can inspire future Saudi players to aim for the Grand Slams.”

World No. 1 Alcaraz acknowledged the Kingdom’s growing role in international sports.

“Saudi Arabia is growing rapidly in terms of sporting events and it’s great to see tennis now becoming part of that movement,” the Spaniard said. “I’m proud to be part of this tournament and hope it will encourage more people to take an interest in the game.”

Sinner, who is part of the new wave of tennis stars, said it was important to generate excitement among fans by creating fresh rivalries within the game.

“What tennis needs are rivalries that inspire young players and draw in spectators,” the Italian said. “It’s exciting to be part of an event like this, which can showcase the sport to a whole new audience here in Saudi Arabia.”

Rune, a rising star from Denmark, echoed that sentiment.

“This event is important for the growth of tennis here. It’s great to be part of a project that can inspire young players and I’m excited to see how tennis evolves in Saudi Arabia.”

He said the facilities in Riyadh were top quality, reflecting the country’s commitment to supporting global sport.

With Nadal and Djokovic now in the twilight of their careers — and the other member of the so-called Big Three, Roger Federer, already retired — the Six Kings Slam is a chance for four of the sport’s rising stars to make their mark.

“It’s almost impossible to replicate what the Big Three achieved but my goal is to keep people excited about tennis, to help the sport continue to grow,” Alcaraz said.

Rune said the chance to face two of the game’s greats in Nadal and Djokovic was all the motivation he needed to put on a show.

The Six Kings Slam is part of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 initiative to diversify its economy and become a hub for international events.