With a comeback victory against his rival and friend Alcaraz, 6-7, 6-3, 6-3, Yannik Sinner has become the first King of Tennis. In Riyadh, the South Tyrolean player took home the Six Kings Slam trophy along with the record prize of 6 million euros awarded to the winner, following a balanced and thrilling match marked by constant twists and turns.
In the first set, the Italian appeared to be in complete control but was ultimately caught and defeated by the Spaniard in a tiebreak. Sinner responded in the second set with a double break, sealing a commanding 6-3 win. In the third set, after the first six games were evenly matched at 3-3, the world number one managed to hit the turbo button and outlast his opponent.
As we await the Finals that will officially mark the end of the tennis season, it’s clear that 2024 has been a triumphant year for Sinner, at least according to his on-court performances: he has won two Grand Slams, achieved and consolidated the top spot in the ATP rankings, and captured several Master 1000 titles in rapid succession, establishing himself as the undisputed star of the season. Off the court, challenges arose with the ongoing Clostebol doping case still in the process of resolution following the WADA appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. However, Sinner has managed to keep the turmoil at bay, demonstrating a remarkable ability to focus despite the distractions that might have overwhelmed anyone else. Now the world number one is also the player who has earned the highest prize money ever in a single tournament since the invention of the racket. Truly a King—undisputed.
