"Money-losingest exhibition in tennis history" - Journalist points at unsold Six Kings Slam tickets after massive prize money revelation
Tennis journalist Ben Rothenberg labeled the Six Kings Slam exhibition, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, as the most financially unprofitable event, citing its high prize money and unsold tickets. The star-studded event featured Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, Daniil Medvedev, and Holger Rune.
The event's winner will get $6 million in prize money while each participant will earn a guaranteed amount of $1.5 million. The event features high-level production and was promoted heavily.
However, Rothenberg has noted that, according to one of the ticketing sites, several seats are still unsold for the final. He took to X to post a screenshot of the unsold tickets and wrote:
"On this one website (ViaGogo), 100+ tickets still available for the Six Kings final... With at least $1 .5M for each player and SIX MILLION DOLLARS for the champ, plus super-expensive promo and no offsetting major TV deals, this might be the money-losingest exo in tennis history."
The event is scheduled to run from 16-19 October. The quarterfinals of the event have already taken place with Jannik Sinner defeating Daniil Medvedev and Carlos Alcaraz getting the better of Holger Rune.
Six Kings Slam features entertaining SF encounters: Jannik Sinner vs. Novak Djokovic; Carlos Alcaraz vs. Rafael Nadal
Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic received a bye and entered the semifinal of the Six Kings Slam. They awaited the winner of the two quarterfinals played on 16 October, Day 1, of the event.
Jannik Sinner outclassed Daniil Medvedev to register a 6-0, 6-3 victory and set up a semifinal clash against Djokovic. Sinner and Djokovic faced each other just days ago in the final of the Shanghai Masters where the Italian earned an impressive 7-6(4), 6-3 victory. The pair have faced each other eight times before and their head-to-head is tied at 4-4.
In the other quarterfinal, Carlos Alcaraz notched up an impressive 6-4, 6-2 victory over Holger Rune. After the win, the Spaniard even shared the court with Brazilian football icon Neymar, who currently plays for Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal.
In the semifinal, Alcaraz will take on his idol Nadal. The Spaniards have faced each other thrice on tour and Nadal leads the head-to-head 2-1.
Both semifinals are set to take place on Thursday, 17 October. The third-place playoff and final of the Six Kings Slam will take place on Saturday, 19 October.