In a slightly surprising turn of events, Stefanos Tsitsipas has been announced as the final participant for the upcoming “Six Kings Slam” exhibition tournament, set to take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from October 15-18. The Greek star’s entry comes as a replacement for the injured Jack Draper, who recently ended his season due to an arm injury.
The exhibition tournament, now in its second edition as part of the Riyadh Season, has already attracted most of the biggest names on tour. Tsitsipas will join a star-studded field that includes Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, Novak Djokovic, Alexander Zverev and Taylor Fritz. The lineup boasts the current top five ranked players on the ATP Tour, with Tsitsipas’s inclusion completing the roster of six.
Tsitsipas’s participation is of course a surprise to many, given his challenging season this year and some injury problems he’s dealing with. The former world No. 3 has experienced a dip in form, with a 22-18 record this season and a current ranking of world No. 27. He has not advanced past the second round in any of the Grand Slams this year. Despite the struggles, his name recognition make him a high-profile addition to the event.
The Six Kings Slam is known for its lucrative prize money, which is among the largest in the sport. The total prize money for the tournament is $13.5 million, with the winner taking home a staggering $6 million in total, a figure that surpasses the prize money for a Grand Slam champion. Each of the six participants is guaranteed a minimum payout of $1.5 million just for taking part.
The tournament will be held at the ANB Arena, an indoor hard-court venue. The format is a knockout-style exhibition, with the top two seeds receiving a bye to the semifinals. The inaugural event in 2024 saw Jannik Sinner defeat Carlos Alcaraz in the final to claim the historic prize. The event will be broadcast on Netflix, bringing the matches to a global audience.
Surprise, surprise!
— Stefanos Tsitsipas (@steftsitsipas) September 17, 2025
Excited to compete in the Six Kings Slam next month in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia ?? pic.twitter.com/wgVZO97pgW
