The Six Kings Slam is a high-profile men’s tennis exhibition event held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, as part of the country’s annual Riyadh Season. It was inaugurated in October 2024 and features a small field of six of the world’s top male players, often including the reigning Grand Slam champions and top-ranked competitors. The tournament is notable for offering an unprecedented prize purse for an exhibition, with the winner of the inaugural edition taking home $6 million.

There are no ranking points or head-to-head records at stake, just pure tennis showtime. Though unofficial, the Riyadh tournament has quickly become a magnet for top players thanks to its massive payouts: Each participant banks £1.1m ($1.5m), while the winner pockets an extra £3.4m ($4.5m), taking home a staggering £4.5m ($6m) payday. Now, let’s check out who’s headlining this blockbuster event!

When and where will the Six Kings Slam 2025 take place?

The three-day event will unfold in a best-of-three-set format, with matches scheduled for Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday, in line with ATP rules that prevent players from competing on three consecutive days at exhibitions. It takes place at The Venue, an 8,000-seat arena that is part of Saudi Arabia’s annual Riyadh Season, a festival known for combining world-class sports and entertainment.

The schedule kicks off with the quarter-finals on October 15, followed by the semi-finals on October 16. Players will then get a day of rest on October 17 to regroup and recover. The action resumes on October 18 with the third-place play-off and the highly anticipated final. For the first time, fans can catch all the action live on Netflix at no extra cost for existing subscribers, marking a thrilling new chapter for tennis broadcasting.

What is the schedule of play for the 2025 Six Kings Slam?

The 2025 edition brings together a stellar lineup featuring Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, Novak Djokovic, Taylor Fritz, Alexander Zverev, and Stefanos Tsitsipas, who steps in to replace the injured Jack Draper. The event spans three days, delivering high-profile matchups in a best-of-three-set format.

The opening day, Wednesday, October 15, showcases the quarter-finals. Both Carlos Alcaraz, who is returning after a short break following an ankle injury at the Japan Open that forced him to withdraw from the Shanghai Masters, and Novak Djokovic receive byes into the semi-finals. The remaining matches feature Taylor Fritz taking on Alexander Zverev, and Jannik Sinner facing Stefanos Tsitsipas, the latter making his first appearance since the US Open.

Day two, Thursday, October 16, features the semi-finals. Alcaraz will meet the winner of Taylor Fritz versus Zverev, while Djokovic will face the victor of Sinner versus Tsitsipas.

Finally, the third and final day, Saturday, October 18, hosts the third-place play-off and the championship decider. The two semi-finalists who fall short will battle for third place, while the winners will contest the final. The last man standing in Riyadh will walk away with the grand prize, capping off three days of elite tennis competition.

Who won the Six Kings Slam in 2024?

Since debuting in 2019, Riyadh Season has turned Saudi Arabia’s capital into a global playground of concerts, sports, and culture. Every winter, the city buzzes with world-class entertainment, and this year’s lineup is bigger than ever. The Six Kings Slam returns to join WWE Raw and the Jake Paul vs. Gervonta “Tank” Davis showdown as part of Netflix’s new slate of live programming, all available to stream at no extra cost.

The first Six Kings Slam in October 2024 delivered tennis drama at its finest. Six of the world’s best went head-to-head, and Jannik Sinner battled back from a set down to stun Carlos Alcaraz 6-7, 6-3, 6-3 in the final. It was a week filled with blockbuster matchups, including Novak Djokovic’s emotional showdown with Rafael Nadal, a meeting between legends who share 46 Grand Slam titles.

That Djokovic-Nadal clash felt like a chapter closing. Nadal, who owns 22 majors, had already hinted at retiring after next month’s Davis Cup, while Djokovic once again edged his greatest rival. The two met at the net for a warm embrace. “The last dance was an epic one,” Djokovic posted later. “And of course emotional. I’ll cherish our rivalry forever, Rafael Nadal. Tennis will miss you.”

Then came the new rivalry that has everyone talking. Sinner’s victory over Alcaraz sealed him the $6 million prize and his first win of the season against the Spaniard. “Until now, every match was very, very good,” Sinner said. “But we will always hope this rivalry will last as long as possible.” Their battles have become the heartbeat of the new generation.

Now, all eyes are on Riyadh again. Could this be another Alcaraz-Sinner classic? They’ve already met five times this season, including all three recent Grand Slams, with Alcaraz winning ten of their last fifteen clashes. Still, this is a fresh court with a new twist. Anything can happen, and with this star-studded field, the real question is: Who will be crowned the ultimate king?