The Six Kings Slam turned to be one of the most successful exhibitions in the ongoing season. Top-ranked players from the ATP tour took time from their already hectic schedule to gather around for a high-stakes show. Among all the other things that became a highlight, the prize money offered to players sparked controversies. Jannik Sinner, after defeating Carlos Alcaraz in a gripping showdown, bagged $6 million, an amount way bigger than what grand slam events generally offer. Although it may be a jackpot for the participants, Sinner’s latest admission of his intentions invited comments from renowned entities.

Tennis coach and analyst Paul Annecone recently jumped to Jannik Sinner’s defense after the Italian faced criticism for competing in the Six Kings Slam in Saudi Arabia, where he won a hefty prize. Speaking on TC Live, Annacone clarified that money wasn’t the only driving factor for Sinner’s participation. “I don’t think he played solely for money. He has a lot more integrity than that,” Annacone said, highlighting that there’s nothing wrong with making a smart business decision. “I don’t think he needs to defend playing for money or not. I think, it sounds ironic but, pay me the big bucks and that’s why I’m here,” he added, acknowledging the lavish payouts of the event.

Sinner, who secured victories at both the Australian Open and US Open this year, was forced to defend himself after his win over Carlos Alcaraz in the Riyadh final, where he came back from a set down to claim a 6-7, 6-3, 6-3 victory. Speaking to Eurosport, Sinner explained that his primary motivation wasn’t financial. “I don’t play for money. It’s very simple. For me, it was more important that I played the matches in the right way and that this will hopefully improve me as a player,” admitted Sinner.

Despite the detailed clarification, veteran player Stan Wawrinka seemed unconvinced. After Sinner’s comments came to light on X, Wawrinka responded with a laughing emoji as he expressed his disbelief. The Swiss player, who has earned only £460,000 in prize money this year, hasn’t progressed past the second round of a Grand Slam since 2020. This incident highlighted the tension between financial gains and professional motivation for players like Sinner that emerge out of high-profile events like the Six Kings Slam.

Andy Roddick not impressed with Jannik Sinner’s heavy paycheck

Jannik Sinner’s win over Carlos Alcaraz in the Six Kings Slam final was not just about the prize money but also helped break a losing streak. With a hard-fought 6(5)-7, 6-3, 6-3 victory, Sinner ended his three-match skid against the Spaniard, who had bested him earlier this year in the China Open final and the French Open semi-finals. The win in Saudi Arabia was a remarkable achievement for the young Italian, as the tournament featured elite players like Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal, with each participant guaranteed $1.5 million.

However, despite the high-profile names and hefty financial incentives, former tennis star Andy Roddick wasn’t impressed. Speaking on his ‘Served with Andy Roddick’ podcast, he critiqued the Six Kings Slam as nothing more than a “marketing budget” for a government. Roddick highlighted that, unlike traditional tournaments, this exhibition had the luxury of paying a few star players enormous sums, with Sinner reportedly earning up to $6 million.

Roddick also took issue with the lack of camaraderie in the event, despite its flashy promotions. The tournament’s trailer portrayed players in exaggerated, character-like roles—Alcaraz as the “Sand Man” and Sinner as the “Renaissance Artist”—but Roddick found the atmosphere awkward. “Someone’s going to pay you that amount of money, and you have to go do awkward dancing,” Roddick remarked. “The whole thing looked completely unnatural. It just looked weird.” While the event drew attention for its stars and money, it seemed to miss the sense of unity and authenticity that tennis fans cherish.