Alcaraz and Sinner set up blockbuster final at Six Kings Slam
October 17, 2025 12:17 pm
Defending champion Jannik Sinner advanced to the final of the 2025 Six Kings Slam exhibition tennis tournament on Thursday night after defeating Serbian veteran Novak Djokovic in straight sets in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
For the second year in a row, Sinner will face Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz in the final.
Facing the 38-year-old Serbian, the 24-year-old Italian broke Djokovic’s serve in the third game of the opening set and maintained his advantage to take it 6-4. In the second set, the 14-year age gap between the two players began to show, with Djokovic struggling in long rallies. Sinner quickly closed out the set 6-2 to seal the victory.
After the match, Djokovic joked to the crowd, saying, “I’m sorry you couldn’t see a longer match today. It’s his fault, not my fault.”
“It felt like a runaway train. He was smacking the ball from all corners. I was just trying to hang in there. He was just too good, so well done to him. Good luck in the final,” he added.
In the other semifinal, world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz faced world No. 4 Taylor Fritz of the United States. The two had met just last month in the Japan Open final, where Alcaraz won in straight sets. This time was no different -- the Spaniard once again dominated, breaking Fritz’s serve three times and saving both break points he faced, closing out the match 6-4, 6-2 to book his place in the final.
The final between Alcaraz and Sinner will take place on Saturday, marking their first meeting since this year’s US Open final, where Alcaraz defeated Sinner 3-1 to claim his sixth Grand Slam title and regain the world No. 1 ranking.
Djokovic and Fritz will also meet on Saturday in the third-place playoff.
The Six Kings Slam exhibition tournament was launched in 2024 as part of the “Riyadh Season”. Each year, six of the world’s top male players compete in the event. Last year, Sinner came from behind to defeat Alcaraz in the final.
--Agencies
