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- Sep 7, 2025; Flushing, NY, USA; Jannik Sinner (ITA) speaks after losing to Carlos Alcaraz (ESP) (not pictured) in the final of mens singles at Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images

Defending Champion Jannik Sinner Gets Royally Screwed by Six Kings Slam Draw

Originally posted on Total Apex Sports | By Fahad Hamid | Last updated Sep 26, 2025 5:38 PM ET

Well, well, well. It seems like being the defending champion doesn’t mean squat at the Six Kings Slam. In what can only be described as a masterclass in tournament politics, Sinner has been handed the raw end of the deal for 2025, while Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic waltz straight into the semifinals like they own the place. And honestly? The tennis world is absolutely losing it.

Let me paint you a picture: last year, Sinner dominated the inaugural Six Kings Slam, pocketing a cool $6 million after beating Alcaraz in the final. You’d think that kind of performance would earn him some respect from the organizers, right? Wrong. Dead wrong. Instead, the Italian maestro has been relegated to starting from the quarterfinals, while Djokovic—who didn’t even play last year—gets a free pass to the semis. Make it make sense.

Why Fans Are Absolutely Furious About Sinner’s Treatment

The backlash has been swift and merciless. Tennis fans aren’t holding back their frustration, and frankly, who can blame them? One particularly fired-up supporter wrote, “let’s just flop this stupid ass tournament it’s not like u need money for lawyers anymore.” Ouch. That’s the kind of burn that leaves marks.

Another fan perfectly captured the collective confusion: “I don’t understand this… Shouldn’t last year’s champion be given a bye?” It’s a fair question that apparently nobody at the Six Kings Slam headquarters bothered to ask themselves.

The tournament organizers have essentially told Sinner, “Hey, thanks for winning our little exhibition last year and generating all that buzz, but this year you can work your way up from the bottom like everyone else.” Meanwhile, Djokovic gets the royal treatment despite sitting out the inaugural event. The disrespect is palpable.

The Draw That Makes Zero Sense

Here’s how this mess shakes out: Sinner has to face Stefanos Tsitsipas in the quarterfinals—and that’s assuming Tsitsipas is even fit to play after his recent injury concerns. If Sinner wins that, he gets the pleasure of taking on Djokovic in the semifinals. Meanwhile, Alcaraz only needs to beat the winner of Fritz vs. Zverev to reach the final.

So let’s do some quick math here. Sinner potentially has to play three matches to defend his title, while Alcaraz and Djokovic only need two wins each. That’s not just unfair—it’s insulting to the reigning champion.

The Money Game Behind the Madness

Of course, this isn’t really about tennis rankings or fair play. It’s about star power and drawing viewers. Djokovic is the GOAT with 24 Grand Slams, and Alcaraz is the current world No. 1. The Saudi organizers clearly think these two names sell more tickets and generate more Netflix views than giving the defending champion his due respect.

But here’s the thing that makes this whole situation even more ridiculous: Sinner is guaranteed $1.5 million just for showing up, same as everyone else. The winner takes home an additional $4.5 million, making the total prize a staggering $6 million. So while the money is the same, the path to earning it certainly isn’t equal.

A Tournament That Can’t Read the Room

The Six Kings Slam has a history of making questionable decisions that tick off fans. Last year, people were upset about Holger Rune’s inclusion. This year, they’re questioning Tsitsipas stepping in for the injured Jack Draper. And now, the defending champion gets treated like an afterthought. At what point do the organizers realize they’re alienating the very fans who make this tournament relevant?

One defender of the draw argued that Alcaraz and Djokovic earned their spots through their Grand Slam achievements. Fair enough, but that completely misses the point. Sinner didn’t just stumble into last year’s title—he earned it by beating the same Carlos Alcaraz who’s now getting preferential treatment.

The whole situation reeks of politics over performance, marketing over merit. Sinner has proven he belongs at the top of the tennis world. He’s currently ranked No. 2, has won multiple Grand Slams, and literally conquered this exact tournament just months ago. Yet somehow, he’s being treated like he needs to prove himself all over again.

What This Means for Sinner’s Title Defense

Despite the organizational disrespect, Sinner remains dangerous as hell. His first match against Tsitsipas should be manageable, assuming the Greek can even make it onto the court healthy. The real test comes in a potential semifinal against Djokovic, which could actually be more intriguing than a final would be.

But here’s where the politics get really stupid: if Sinner manages to navigate this ridiculous bracket and defend his title, he’ll have done so by beating more opponents than anyone else. That should make his potential victory even sweeter, right? Unfortunately, it also means more opportunities for things to go wrong.

The Bottom Line

The 2025 Six Kings Slam kicks off October 15 at Riyadh’s ANB Arena, and despite all the drama, Sinner will be there with something to prove. The defending champion has been disrespected by the organizers, but that might just fuel his fire to repeat as champion.

Tennis fans have every right to be livid about this draw. When you create a tournament where the defending champion gets less favorable treatment than players who didn’t even compete the previous year, you’ve lost the plot entirely. The Six Kings Slam organizers better hope Sinner doesn’t use this snub as motivation to embarrass their golden boys on court.

Because if there’s one thing we know about Sinner, it’s that he performs best when he’s got something to prove. And right now, he’s got plenty.

This article first appeared on Total Apex Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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