Six Kings Slam Tennis Exhibition Postponed After Riyadh Attacks
The Six Kings Slam tennis exhibition in Riyadh has been postponed from October to December following deadly missile attacks on the city, disrupting a star-studded player line-up.
The Six Kings Slam tennis exhibition in Saudi Arabia has been postponed following deadly attacks on Riyadh. The event, originally scheduled for October 21-24, will now be held from December 27-30.
Yemen's Houthi movement launched a series of attacks on Saudi Arabia, with a missile strike on Riyadh's airport on Saturday killing 13 people and wounding more than 300. The tournament's postponement is a direct result of the security situation.
Player line-up
The lucrative exhibition was set to feature a roster of Grand Slam champions and top ATP players. The confirmed line-up included Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, and Alexander Zverev. They were to be joined by Australia's Alex de Minaur and Americans Taylor Fritz and Learner Tien.
Organiser statement
Six Kings Slam organisers cited logistical and safety assessments for the delay. They stated the move was made to uphold the quality of the audience experience. The decision reflects Riyadh Season's commitment to delivering sporting events to the highest standards, following an assessment of the organizational and logistical challenges associated with hosting the tournament and their potential impact on the quality of the audience experience, they said.
Broader sporting impact
The tennis postponement is part of wider disruptions to sport in the region following the attacks. Multiple Saudi Pro League football fixtures were also rescheduled due to logistical considerations.
| Event | Original Date | New Date/Status |
|---|---|---|
| Six Kings Slam (Tennis) | October 21-24 | December 27-30 |
| Al-Ittihad vs Al-Shabab (Football) | October 20 | December |
| Al-Nassr vs Al-Ahli (Football) | October 20 | March |
In football, Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr saw an AFC Champions League match delayed by an hour because of a missile alert. Ronaldo scored in a subsequent 3-1 victory. Other future events are under review. The Asian Tour is monitoring the situation for its season-closing PIF Saudi International golf tournament, scheduled for November in Riyadh. "We are discussing the developing situation with our partner Golf Saudi with respect to hosting the PIF Saudi International in Riyadh in November," the tour said.
Previous editions
The Six Kings Slam is in its third edition and is broadcast live on Netflix from the ANB Arena in northern Riyadh. Italy's Jannik Sinner won the first two editions, defeating Carlos Alcaraz in the final on both occasions. The event offers significant prize money, with each player reportedly guaranteed £1.2 million and the winner earning an extra £3.5 million.
The Six Kings Slam is now scheduled to take place from 27-30 December at the ANB Arena in Riyadh.
