Taking on the Six Kings Slam, Jannik Sinner delivered another stunning victory. Facing Stefanos Tsitsipas in the quarterfinals of the exhibition, he didn’t flinch once. The Italian powered past the Greek with a straight-set win, 6-2, 6-3! The defending champion looks ready to claim it all again, though the road ahead only gets tougher.

In the semifinals, Sinner will go up against 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic. It’s their third meeting of the season after their showdowns at Roland Garros and Wimbledon. Could this be the stage for the Italian to score a third semifinal win in 2025? If things go his way, we might see him face Carlos Alcaraz for the sixth time this season. Their rivalry has grown steadily this year, and it’s fair to wonder how Sinner feels about it.

Jannik Sinner shared his thoughts candidly. He said, “It’s quite interesting. We have many dynamics, I would say. We have a good friendship off the court, and we try to play the best we can. The rivalry is all we need in the sport, and we’ve had great rivalries in the past. Now we have new players coming up, and you know, we try to push ourselves to the limit. It’s a very interesting dynamic, and this sport needs rivalries. It’s great to have Novak still here, playing the best tennis he can, and it’s great for the sport!”

While Jannik Sinner leads his head-to-head with Nole 6-4, there’s no telling what might happen next. Can the defending champion protect his crown?

Meanwhile, the rivalry between the World No.1 and No.2 has hit a new level this season. They’ve faced off in three Grand Slams and two Masters finals, a streak that’s shaping modern tennis history. It all started in Paris, where Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner battled for five and a half hours in a record-breaking French Open final that the Spaniard claimed. Then came the US Open, where Alcaraz dethroned Sinner after his remarkable 65-week run at the top and took the title. Right now, Carlos leads the Italian by 1,340 points in the ATP rankings.

Not to mention, Sinner’s last stop was the Shanghai Masters, where he returned as defending champion eager to close the gap. With Alcaraz sidelined by an ankle injury, the chance seemed perfect. But things turned sour quickly. The Italian struggled with cramps in his round-of-32 match against Tallon Griekspoor and had to retire mid-match, later withdrawing from the event. Meanwhile, Djokovic powered his way to the semifinals before falling to eventual champion Valentin Vacherot.

All eyes are now on Riyadh for the Six Kings Slam. It’s not an official tournament and doesn’t affect rankings, but fans are watching closely. After that tough exit in Shanghai, everyone’s curious to see Sinner’s form. How sharp is the defending champion looking?

After Shanghai setback Jannik Sinner gives a health update

On October 5th, Sinner’s match against Tallon Griekspoor took a painful turn. Midway through the third round, he began struggling with severe cramps in his right thigh. He tried to fight through it, but the pain kept getting worse. By the third set, he was limping, barely able to move. With the score locked at 6-7(3), 7-5, 3-2, he had no choice but to retire. Instantly, speculation about his condition started flying.

Before his first match at the Six Kings Slam, fans finally got an update. A post shared by @giovannipelazzo on X revealed Sinner’s own words about his recovery. “I’ve taken two days off [after the cramps in Shanghai] and then we got back to work: I feel good physically and mentally, we’re ready here and for the upcoming tournaments, Vienna, Paris, Turin: hopefully we can finish the year on a high note.” Short, but just the reassurance fans needed.

Skipping Paris would mean ending the year without an ATP 1000 title for the first time since Miami last season. But Sinner isn’t looking back. He’s focused on what’s ahead, determined to finish strong. His mindset? Keep building, keep believing. That’s the spirit we’re used to seeing from him.

Looking ahead, the Italian seems calm but driven. “I’m happy, it’s the second consecutive year that I can play here, let’s see what the atmosphere will be like but I’m happy.” After Riyadh, he’s got Vienna coming up later this month, then the ATP Finals in Turin on November 9. Big stages. Big chances. But before all that, he’s got business to handle at the Six Kings Slam. “Certainly every year is different and has its own stories; there are very tough opponents, let’s see what I can do this year,” he said.

And if last year’s edition was any sign, Sinner knows how to rise to the occasion. He stole the spotlight in Riyadh by beating Daniil Medvedev, Novak Djokovic, and Carlos Alcaraz back-to-back to take the crown. Now, he’s back for more. Defending his title with an extra $4.5 million waiting for the champion and $1.5 million each for the rest. Not bad at all. So, can he make it to another final this time? Let’s hear your thoughts in the comments!