Jannik Sinner defended over controversial and ‘ironic’ Saudi money comments

Kevin Palmer
Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz
Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz at the Six Kings Slam

Jannik Sinner sparked plenty of debate when he suggested he did not play in the Six Kings Slam exhibition event for the money on offer.

World No 1 Sinner walked away with a stunning $7.5million from the event in Riyhad earlier this month, with his $6million prize money for winning the event backed up by a $1.5million appearance fee.

Many observers voiced their concern over financial windfalls that were far in excess of anything on offer at the Grand Slam events, with Sinner winning more for clinching victory in three matches than many players earn in an entire career.

Yet the Italian dismissed claims he signed up for the Six Kings Slam to cash in on the big rewards on offer, as he insisted he went to Riyhad for a sporting challenge.

“I don’t play for money. It’s very simple,” Sinner told Eurosport in a social media clip that drew a huge response.

“Of course, it’s a nice prize and everything but for me, I went there because there were possibly the six best players in the world. And then you can measure yourself with them.

“It was also a nice event for me. It was the first time I went to Riyadh and it was nice.

“When you come back as a winner, for me, it was more that, okay, I played the matches in the right way and this hopefully can improve me as a player also for the future.”

Three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka responded to Sinner’s claims with a laughing face emoji on X and now Roger Federer’s former coach Paul Annacone has given his verdict.

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Speaking to the Tennis Channel, Annacone insisted Sinner should not apologise for collecting big money in an exhibition event.

“Look, it’s a big business,” began Annacone. “I don’t think he plays solely for money. Obviously, he has got a lot more integrity than that.

“But just like any other big business, there is a price for players to go to certain places at certain times of the year and sure it was the best players in the world and an opportunity to face them, but it was also an opportunity to make the right business decision for him.

“There’s nothing wrong with that. I don’t think he needs to defend playing for money or not.

“The way he said it sounds ironic. This is something we always talk about with the top players. There is a lot of money thrown around?”

Sinner has confirmed he hopes to return for the Six Kings Slam in 2025 and given the finances involved, it seems inevitable that more tennis events will be taking place in Saudi Arabia from this point forward.

There are suggestions that the Miami Open and Madrid Open tournaments are up for sale, with their owners looking to off-load events and Saudi investment possible.

The ATP and WTA Tour have also confirmed they are open to investment from Saudi Arabia, so criticism of Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Daniil Medvedev and Holger Rune for playing in the Six Kings Slam may look misplaced if tennis chiefs develop closer ties with the Arab kingdom.

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