Taylor Fritz and Jannik Sinner Fire Back at Six Kings Slam Critics: 'Show Me Another $6 Million Tournament'

Look, we get it. Tennis fans are confused. Here we have players constantly whining about the packed schedule, crying about burnout, and then—surprise!—they’re all lined up for another exhibition event. But when Taylor Fritz and Jannik Sinner clap back at critics of the Six Kings Slam, they’re not exactly wrong about one thing: nobody’s turning down $6 million for a few days’ work.

The drama surrounding this Saudi Arabian spectacle has been brewing since day one, and honestly, the players defending it are getting pretty fed up with the criticism. Fritz didn’t hold back when addressing the haters, essentially asking them to find him another tournament where he can pocket that kind of cash for maybe three matches. Spoiler alert: they can’t.

Why Players Can’t Resist the Six Kings Slam Money

Let’s be real here—Fritz‘s argument is bulletproof from a purely financial standpoint. The American didn’t mince words when he told critics to show him another tournament offering $6 million for potentially just two matches if you’re a top seed. The silence from those critics? Deafening.

“I’d love for them to show me a tournament where you can go play three matches — well, for the top two seeds, two matches — and potentially make $6 million,” Fritz stated with his arms crossed, probably rolling his eyes at the absurdity of the question. “I’d love to hear that from them.”

The math is simple, folks. Even the U.S. Open‘s recent record-breaking $5 million payout looks modest compared to what Saudi Arabia is throwing around. That’s not even accounting for the guaranteed $1.5 million appearance fee each player gets just for showing up. Compare that to grinding through seven brutal matches at a Grand Slam, dealing with media obligations, and the physical toll—yeah, it’s a no-brainer.

Fritz also acknowledged the elephant in the room about tennis’s already insane schedule. “The unfortunate thing is the schedule is already extremely packed as it is. So you have to choose between these things that are very enjoyable to do and load it on to how packed the tour already is,” he admitted. At least he’s honest about the contradiction.

Sinner’s Comeback Trail and Injury Concerns

Meanwhile, Sinner isn’t backing down from defending the exhibition either, despite his recent injury troubles that have become impossible to ignore. The Italian superstar, who pocketed last year’s Six Kings Slam prize, was refreshingly direct about the financial motivation.

“The money is nothing we’re trying to hide. We know how much is at stake here, and it would be a lie if I told you it wasn’t a motivation,” Sinner said. Finally, some honesty in professional sports! “Every player here will try to win as many matches as possible. It’s like any other exhibition — except here there is a bit more motivation.”

But here’s where things get interesting—and concerning. Sinner’s injury history reads like a medical textbook. Just weeks ago, he was cramping up spectacularly at the Shanghai Masters, forcing him to quit mid-match. Before that, it was stomach issues during the Cincinnati Open final against Carlos Alcaraz, where he retired while trailing 5-0. And who could forget his dramatic grass-court collapse at Wimbledon against Grigor Dimitrov?

The pattern is becoming harder to ignore, and former Italian Davis Cup captain Paolo Bertolucci didn’t sugarcoat it: “The boy is a little fragile. He had cramps, then stomach problems, then elbow problems, then blisters and hip problems.” Ouch. That’s not exactly the endorsement you want as a professional athlete.