‘I will retire’ – Controversial line call enrages Medvedev
Video credit: SNTV
The tournament was originally scheduled for October 21-24 this year, but it had to be moved back owing to unrest in the Middle East and will now take place from December 27-30. It will be the third edition of an event that sees players earn £1.2 million for competing and an extra £3.5m for winning.
Already signed up are Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, Alexander Zverev, Taylor Fritz and Alex de Minaur.
American Learner Tien was due to play in place of Sinner but will now drop out of the line-up.
Sinner’s inclusion adds more star flavour and sets up the prospect of another ‘Sincaraz’ meeting for the title after the Italian claimed victory in the 2024 and 2025 finals over his Spanish rival Alcaraz.
Sinner has not played competitvely since the Wimbledon final when he came from a set down to defeat Zverev and win the fifth Grand Slam title of his career. It was hoped he would feature again at the US Open, and if not there, then at the ATP Finals in Turin.
However, he was unable to return at Flushing Meadows as Zverev captured his second major of the year and Sinner then announced his 2026 season was over.
“Me, together with the doctors, have decided that I need a course of treatment for my knee, which means that the 2026 season is officially over,” Sinner said in a video posted on Instagram.
“The last couple of years, especially the ending in Turin, gave me so many beautiful feelings and emotions. This year is going to be way different. But at the moment I also need to think about my long-term career.
“I will do everything possible to get back to 100%. I thank you already in advance for you support, and hope to see you very, very soon on the court.”
However, in a post on X published on Monday, Alalshikh wrote: “Star Jannik Sinner returns and participates in the world tennis championship Six Kings Slam.”
The format for the Six Kings Slam is simple. As the name suggests, there are six players who begin with a chance to win until they are whittled down to one. Four of the starting six will compete in the first round, while the other two will receive a bye to the semi-finals.
The two winners from the opening round will then complete the last-four line-up, and they will battle it out for a place in the final.
There will then be a showdown for the crown and a third-place match between the two losing semi-finalists.
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