Andy Roddick ‘sick’ after Jannik Sinner made ‘more than 25%’ of his career prize money in 3 days
Andy Roddick pointed out that Jannik Sinner earned “more than 25%” of his career prize money at the Six Kings Slam exhibition and suggested this makes him “sick.”
The American tennis great also proclaimed that he had “no interest” in the event in Saudi Arabia as he thought it looked “completely unnatural” and “weird.”
Sinner collected a staggering $6 million for winning the Six Kings Slam — the largest paycheque in tennis history.
The Italian star defeated Daniil Medvedev in the quarter-finals, Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals and Carlos Alcaraz in the final of the exhibition tournament.
The 23-year-old’s prize money for his three matches in Riyadh is almost half of the $12,032,935 he has earned so far in over 10 months of his outstanding 2024 season. The world No 1 has won seven ATP titles, including two Grand Slams, this year.
ATP News
Jannik Sinner reveals how doping saga made him learn who his friends are
Rafael Nadal gives brutally honest verdict on Saudi Arabia criticism and sportswashing claims
Roddick, a former world No 1, earned $20,640,030 in prize money during a 12-year professional career spanning from 2000 to 2012. He won 32 ATP singles titles, including the 2003 US Open and five Masters 1000 crowns.
In an episode of the Served with Andy Roddick podcast, Roddick was critical of the Six Kings Slam as he discussed the huge prize money offered.
“In all seriousness, I never begrudge anyone their choices,” the American said. “Listen, someone’s going to pay you that amount of money and you have to go do awkward dancing.
“The whole thing looked completely unnatural. It just looked weird. I had no interest in it.
“Even the Novak and Rafa [Nadal] thing, I don’t know, it felt fine, felt like an exhibition but without the charm of a Laver Cup where you’re seeing the interactions between players and the legends get brought back.
“For better or worse we’re gonna see more of these types of things, these exho’s outsized budgets.
“It’s easier to pay Sinner $6 million when you’re not responsible for 122 other players at a given event, plus doubles, plus X, Y and Z.
“It’s one court, it’s not a million courts, it’s no expenses and it’s a marketing budget for a government.”
Roddick sarcastically declared that the fact Sinner made over a quarter of his entire career earnings from the event does not bother him.
“It definitely doesn’t make me sick to my stomach that he (Sinner) made more than 25% of my career prize money in three days of exhibition tennis,” he remarked.
READ NEXT: 2024 ATP prize money leaders: Jannik Sinner extends lead & breaks $12m barrier, Novak Djokovic 6th