Sinner beats Alcaraz in Six Kings final to claim largest purse in tennis history

World No 1 Jannik Sinner beat Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz 6-7 (5), 6-3 6-3 in the final of the Six Kings Slam in Riyadh on Saturday, claiming the largest-ever prize money in the history of tennis.

Sinner will walk away with $7.5 million for his three matches won at the tennis exhibition in Saudi Arabia, with $6 million of that coming from his win in the final.

The victory was Sinner’s first over Alcaraz in 2024, with the Spaniard prevailing in all three of their previous encounters this season.

Ebb and flow sees Sinner finish stronger

In typical Sinner v Alcaraz style, this was a tight clash with plenty of ebb and flow.

It was Sinner who started faster, breaking in the fourth game before consolidating for a 4-1 lead. Just when it seemed that the Italian would be taking a set lead, Alcaraz went on a run of three straight games, breaking Sinner back to level the match on serve at 4-4. The set then stayed on serve, ending in a tiebreak which Alcaraz was able to claim 7-5.

The opening stages of the second set were a mirror image of the first, with Sinner breaking early only to have Alcaraz surge back into the contest. This time it was a break in the third game for the world No 1 for a 3-1 lead. Sinner even earnt three break points for a 4-1, double-break lead, but Alcaraz was able to save them all, notably defending the final one with a Roger Federer-esque fake-forehand-into-slice, setting up a volley that he put away. 

Alcaraz would break in the next game to level the match at 3-3. Just when it seemed as though the world No 2 had the momentum, Sinner went on a tear winning 13 of the next 16 points to break Alcaraz twice and claim the set 6-3, sending the match to a third set.

There was to be no early break in the decider, despite Sinner having a break opportunity in Alcaraz’s first service game. The first indication of who would claim the title came in the eighth game, where Alcaraz sprayed three unforced errors – including two double faults – to hand his opponent a crucial break of serve.

Ahead 5-3, Sinner was clinical in serving out the match, with three big serve-plus-one shots and a marvelous backhand up the line handing him the inaugural Six Kings Slam title.

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