The exhibition known as the Six Kings Slam has sparked a wide range of opinions from various sources including the media, insiders, tennis players, and fans. The upcoming event in Saudi Arabia will feature six notable participants (Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz, Daniil Medvedev, Jannik Sinner, Rafael Nadal, and Holger Rune – ed.) who may face potential disqualification by the ATP.
This potential disqualification stems from the fact that the exhibition is scheduled to take place in October, which coincides with other official ATP Tour events. According to ATP rules, tennis players are prohibited from participating in exhibition events of this nature for more than three consecutive days if official ATP events are occurring simultaneously.
However, the Saudi organizers have devised a plan to circumvent potential disqualifications for the players. They have arranged for two days of competition followed by one day of rest, creating a cycle that will be repeated throughout the entire competition, which could span up to 9 days. By ensuring that players never compete for three consecutive days, the risk of disqualification is effectively mitigated.
Saudi Arabia is making significant efforts to establish itself as a dominant force in sports, leveraging its vast financial resources. The country initially made waves in the soccer world by attracting superstar players such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema. Now, they are turning their attention to tennis.
The Six Kings Slam exhibition is set to take place in Riyadh in October, and it has already generated considerable controversy among various stakeholders, including the media, insiders, and even the tennis players themselves.
The lineup for the tournament is truly remarkable, as it features top-tier tennis players including Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz, Daniil Medvedev, Jannik Sinner, Rafael Nadal, and Holger Rune. With the exception of Rune, all of these players have already achieved success by winning at least one Grand Slam title. In fact, an exhibition match between Djokovic and Alcaraz took place in Saudi Arabia last December, prior to their respective journeys to Melbourne.
According to the Source tennisworldusa.org