Riyadh | Alcaraz, Sinner, Djokovic and Nadal take centre stage

Saudi Arabia has up to now been denied by the ATP, a Masters stage occasion on their shores so that they have determined, as is their need, to purchase their manner into tennis as they’ve carried out in soccer, boxing and different sports activities.

It’s an unimaginable occasion, we’ve been speaking about it because the US Open, and I can’t imagine this occasion is going on Greg Rusedski

The result’s the Six Kings Slam now being performed in Riyadh with a greater than spectacular line-up of Novak Djokovic, Rafa Nadal, Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, Daniil Medvedev and Holger Rune all of whom have been assured a minimal of one-million US {dollars} while the general winner will decide up a reported US$4.1 million.

Not everybody has welcomed this exhibition occasion at a time when one of many main matters of dialog are the size of the skilled calendar which has led to so many accidents in many individuals’s views.

However Greg Rusedski could be very a lot in favour of it as he informed the DAZN sport streaming TC community.

“It’s simply unbelievable to consider it, you may have two of the all-time greats,” the previous British No.1 stated.

“Most likely the 2 finest gamers within the historical past of our sport,” he added referring to Nadal and Djokovic.

After which turning to the youthful era, he continued: “You’ve gotten the younger bucks arising, Alcaraz and Sinner, who shared all 4 majors this 12 months.

“Let’s not neglect Daniil Medvedev, [former] world primary, a slam winner, and Holger Rune, the man that everyone thinks goes to be a part of the combo.

“It’s an unimaginable occasion, we’ve been speaking about it because the US Open, and I can’t imagine this occasion is going on.”

It should be burdened that it’s an exhibition occasion with no rating factors at stake, solely prize cash.

Additionally it is a straight knockout occasion and began on Wednesday when two matches have been performed with the winners going by way of to the semi-finals the place Djokovic and Nadal await having been given first spherical byes.

Nadal’s look following his current announcement of retirement after the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga, is maybe stunning however he has at all times cherished a problem and he actually could have one when he faces Alcaraz on Thursday after the younger Spaniard swept Holger Rune apart 6-4 6-2 yesterday.

Within the different match performed Sinner beat Medvedev 6-0 6-3 and as a reward, will play Djokovic and there could be no denying that the semi-final line-up is mouth-watering prospect!

(Photograph by Richard Pelham/Getty Photographs)

Alcaraz is actually excited at taking part in his idol and guarantees to provide his all towards the 38-year-old icon of the sport.

“I’m going to go full energy,” the 21-year-old Alcaraz stated previous to their match. “I’m not shocked he’s practising and he’s 100%, hitting the ball tremendous exhausting, feeling the ball very well.

“I’m not shocked in any respect, due to the participant he’s, the legend he’s. It doesn’t matter that he stayed away from tennis for 3, 4 months. He’s going to return again stronger than ever earlier than.

“So I’m going to attempt to play good tennis if I need to beat him, however I’m going to go full with out worry.

“I grew up watching him. He was my idol, continues to be my idol. It’s a disgrace that he introduced that he’s going to retire from tennis. He’s a very essential particular person for my life, for my profession,

“He was one of many causes that I needed to change into knowledgeable tennis participant, so figuring out that he’s going to retire from tennis is fairly robust for everybody, for me.

“So I don’t know if it’s a privilege, taking part in towards him as soon as once more or if it’s going to be robust for me. However I’ll attempt to take pleasure in sharing the court docket with him as soon as once more, however I believe it’s actually tough for everybody.”

The second semi is equally engrossing with the present world No.1 taking over the 24-record holding grand slam winner who was crushed by Sinner within the Shanghai Masters remaining a number of days in the past. Presently the Italian is the participant to beat, regardless of the occasion, as Medvedev found to his disgrace on Wednesday!

Jannik Sinner (L) and Daniil Medvedev pose previous to their match

(Photograph by FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP by way of Getty Photographs)

“It was an excellent efficiency contemplating I arrived only a couple days in the past, not even. And I solely had one observe session,” Sinner stated after overwhelming the Russian.

“It’s clearly a really good second for me. I labored very exhausting in my very younger profession to be on this place, and that is from many, a few years of labor.

“That is what I really like about being a tennis participant, now I can take pleasure in each second.”

Exhibition or not, the following few days may present some thrilling tennis for these lucky sufficient to look at it.