Sinner Dominates Tsitsipas in Riyadh Debut,Sets Semifinal Clash with Djokovic at Six Kings
Riyadh,Saudi Arabia – Jannik Sinner marked his debut at the Six Kings exhibition tournament in Riyadh with a commanding victory over Stefanos Tsitsipas,winning 6-2,6-3. The win comes after a brief recovery period for Sinner, who attributed recent cramps in Shanghai to dehydration stemming from a gastrointestinal virus. He took full responsibility,stating,”The heat and humidity knocked me down,I wasn’t perfect.”
Sinner, who replaced the injured Draper in the tournament, expressed confidence in his physical and mental state prior to the match. ”I feel good, physically and mentally,” he said yesterday.He has his sights set on finishing the year strongly, with Vienna, Paris, and Turin all on his schedule. While defending his Masters title remains a key objective, his participation in both the Vienna ATP 500 and Paris Masters 1000 is still to be determined, with Vienna appearing more likely due to positive memories – including a 2023 title win secured after a breakfast with his parents who travelled from Sesto Pusteria.
The Italian’s return to competition follows a season impacted by a three-month suspension related to Clostebol, during which he still secured three titles, including two Majors, in the nine tournaments he has played. Regaining the world No.1 ranking, currently held by Carlos Alcaraz, is not a primary focus. Sinner’s priority is a strong finish to the season and a productive off-season to prepare for 2026.
Meanwhile,Alcaraz himself is managing a left ankle injury sustained in Tokyo,training with a bandage as a precaution. He used downtime following Shanghai to improve his golf handicap and finalize a personal logo to be unveiled in Turin.
The return of both Sinner and alcaraz signals a shift in the tournament landscape,moving away from recent “fairy tales” and back to a competition dominated by the top players. Alongside Sinner and Alcaraz, the Six Kings tournament features Alexander Zverev, Taylor Fritz, and Novak Djokovic.
Djokovic advanced to the semifinals with ease, boasting his record of 24 Slam titles. His plans for the remainder of the season remain fluid, potentially utilizing the Six Kings tournament to prepare for the ATP Finals, or capitalizing on the financial opportunities in Arabia.Despite suffering from extreme conditions in China, even experiencing vomiting on court, Djokovic reiterated his long-standing criticism of the congested tennis calendar, stating, “Players complain, then disappear, then complain again. If the top players are not willing to fight with the ATP, nothing will ever change.”
sinner will now face Djokovic in the semifinals, promising a compelling showdown between two of the sport’s leading figures.
