In the presence of HE Turki bin Abdulmohsen Alalshikh, Chairman of the General Entertainment Authority (GEA), young stars Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz secured their places in the final of “The 6 Kings Slam” tennis tournament, one of the most prominent events of this year’s Riyadh Season, after defeating Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal, respectively.
In the first match, Sinner and Djokovic were locked in a tight contest that lasted two and a half hours. Sinner took the first set 6-2, but Djokovic fought back, winning the second set in a tiebreak 7-6. In the decisive set, Sinner prevailed 6-4, sending Djokovic to the third-place match after an intense and dramatic battle that captivated the packed audience at The Venue, one of Riyadh Season’s new zones. The victory came just a day after Sinner’s triumph over Daniil Medvedev to reach the semi-finals.
In the all-Spanish showdown, Carlos Alcaraz delivered a commanding performance, defeating Nadal in straight sets 6-3, 6-3. The young star dominated Nadal, who had recently returned to competition after a period of retirement.
After the match, Sinner commented: “I’m usually calm, but today I felt nervous too. Sometimes I struggle to control myself when I’m a bit tired. It’s good to have another chance on Saturday. I may not be at my best, but I’ll give my all to put on a good show for all of you. Thank you for coming and see you on Saturday.”
Alcaraz reflected on his victory, saying: “In tennis, you need to play many matches to feel comfortable on the court. I knew I had to stay focused and give my best if I wanted to beat Rafa, as he’s always a tough opponent. So, I tried to give everything I had today.”
