Six King Slam’s Substantial Payout Sparks Tennis Debate

RIYADH: The Six King Slam has rapidly ascended to prominence within tennis discussions. American player Jessica Pegula described the guaranteed $1.5 million appearance fees at the ANB Arena exhibition as ‘insane’.

During a podcast session with Jennifer Brady, Madison Keys, and Desirae Krawczyk, she conveyed her astonishment at the substantial sums offered to prominent figures in the sport.

“The prize allocation is unbelievable – 1.5 million simply for participating,” Pegula stated.

The Six King Slam, hosted in Saudi Arabia earlier in June, showcased six elite tennis professionals, including Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, Novak Djokovic, Alexander Zverev, Taylor Fritz, and Jack Draper.

Following an injury, Draper was substituted by Stefanos Tsitsipas. The victor reportedly secured a massive $6 million prize.

Pegula’s remarks are set against a background of continuous discussions about the sport’s increasing financial enticements beyond the conventional ATP and WTA circuits.

The exhibition, devoid of ranking implications, triggered discussions regarding the sway of Saudi Arabian financial backing in sports and its possible ramifications for other competitions.

Brady, the 31-year-old co-host, playfully noted that such an opportunity would be challenging to reject, asserting that nobody could decline such a proposition.

“The champion is awarded 6 million, with 1.5 million provided for mere presence; I doubt anyone would refuse!” Brady commented.

The unparalleled appearance remunerations underscore how exhibition tournaments are changing the financial composition of professional tennis, as athletes are progressively lured to highly rewarding off-tour ventures in between significant tournaments.