Jack Draper is set to cash in this October after being confirmed as one of the six players for the second edition of the lucrative Six Kings Slam in Saudi Arabia.
The British No 1 will line up alongside tennis royalty – including world No 1 Jannik Sinner, Wimbledon finalist Carlos Alcaraz and 24-time Grand Slam winner Novak Djokovic – for the controversial event in Riyadh, which will again offer eye-watering appearance fees and the biggest individual winner’s prize in tennis history.
The tournament, staged at the ANB Arena as part of Riyadh Season, runs from October 15–18 and is officially classed as an exhibition, meaning no ATP ranking points will be awarded. But with players guaranteed a minimum of £1.12million simply for taking part – and the winner banking a staggering £4.5m – it’s little wonder the event has drawn big names despite its unofficial status.
Draper, 23, will make his debut at the event amid a breakout year that has seen him rise to world No 5, win Indian Wells, and finish runner-up in Madrid. He is one of three new faces in this year’s line-up, alongside fellow debutants Taylor Fritz and Alexander Zverev, with last year’s participants Rafael Nadal, Daniil Medvedev and Holger Rune not returning.
Italy’s Sinner returns to defend the crown he won last year by beating Alcaraz in the final, while Djokovic – who missed the inaugural event – adds further star power.
The promo campaign for the 2025 edition leaves no doubt about the organisers’ ambitions. A striking poster features the six competitors in icy blue tones, each wearing a golden crown and gazing stoically ahead like Renaissance sculptures. Their shirts and skin are daubed with colourful graffiti and cryptic symbols, all beneath the bold tagline: ‘Still Kings. Never Still.’
Jack Draper has signed up for the second edition of the Six Kings Slam in Saudi Arabia
World No 1 Jannik Sinner, who won the inaugural event in 2024, will compete alongside Draper
Taylor Fritz, Alexander Zverev, Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic will be the other entrants
Last year’s edition also made headlines off the court when Neymar appeared as a guest — only to be loudly booed by fans inside the purpose-built arena. Chants of ‘Ronaldo! Ronaldo!’ rang out in favour of Cristiano, who remains a national icon in Saudi Arabia after joining Al-Nassr. The Brazilian was seen chatting courtside with Nadal, but the reception was far frostier than expected.
Though popular with players, the tournament has not been without its critics. Andy Murray spoke out last year, branding it a glorified ‘exhibition’ and declaring: ‘Nobody cares.’ The former world No 1 also questioned its sporting value given the absence of ranking points and the event’s ultra-commercial tone.
Still, the Six Kings Slam is pushing ahead with a heavy marketing blitz. Last year’s cinematic five-minute launch film placed the stars in stylised historical scenes – from Alcaraz battling a robot in the desert to Sinner sculpting a marble statue – earning comparisons to Hollywood trailers and attracting attention well beyond the tennis world.
