Six Kings Slam live: Scores and updates from Carlos Alcaraz v Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic v Taylor Fritz matches in big-money Saudi exhibition on Netflix – UK Times

Novak Djokovic admitted Jannik Sinner “kicked my ass” after a heavy defeat to the World No 2 in the semi-finals of the Six Kings Slam exhibition in Saudi Arabia.

Sinner had won his last five competitive matches against the 24-time grand slam champion, including straight-sets victories in the semi-finals of Roland Garros and Wimbledon this season.

The 38-year-old Djokovic said Sinner and World No 1 Carlos Alcaraz were “too good” over best-of-five sets following his semi-final defeat to Alcaraz at last month’s US Open.

At a time in the season where the annual debate over what to do about the overpacked and unrelenting tennis calendar swings around once more, it seems there is always room for a little more competition when it comes with a $6m cheque for the champion on the side. Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner are among the players involved as the Six Kings Slam returns for its second year in Saudi Arabia, with the three-day exhibition in Riyadh offering $1m more to the winner than Alcaraz received when he triumphed at last month’s US Open, itself the biggest prize fund in grand slam history.

“I’ve been recovering the ankle as much and as good as I can,” explained the 22-year-old Spaniard.

“I don’t feel, I would say, 100 per cent, the doubts are there thinking about it a little bit when I’m moving on court.

“But I think it improved a lot and I’m going to compete and perform well here in the Six Kings Slam.”

“The obvious one that I would hope is Jack Draper,” said Henman, who is part of Netflix’s coverage of this week’s Six Kings Slam in Saudi Arabia, to the PA news agency.

“For the first half of the year he was playing some brilliant tennis and he was in the conversation, he beat Alcaraz in Indian Wells, so it’s frustrating that he’s had this injury problem.

Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner will meet again in the final of the Six Kings Slam exhibition in Saudi Arabia. After battles in the finals of Roland Garros, Wimbledon and the US Open this season, the two best players in the world will compete for the $6m overall prize on Saturday.

Sinner thrashed Novak Djokovic 6-4 6-2, with the 38-year-old admitted he had his ass kicked, with Alcaraz also in imposing form as he rolled through Taylor Fritz 6-4 6-2 in the other semi-final. Alcaraz won his last meeting with Sinner at the US Open final last month, with the Spaniard winning seven of their last eight matches.

As it is an exhibition, the Six Kings Slam does not offer rankings points, or count towards official head-to-head records. It is the highest profile men’s tennis event to take place in Saudi Arabia, which has often been accused of using sport and entertainment to whitewash its human rights record.