Like a year ago, the world's best players, Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, were the rivals in the Six Kings Slam final. Like in 2024, Jannik defeated his greatest opponent to regain the trophy and take home $6 million.
The Italian rested his body following the Shanghai Masters setback and defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas, Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz in Riyadh to lift a golden racket and celebrate a perfect weekend.
Sinner was too strong for Alcaraz in the final, besting world no. 1 6-2, 6-4 in 73 minutes following a rock-solid display on serve and return. Let's examine how the San Candido native ousted the six-time Major winner.
Jannik provided superb tennis behind the first and second serve. He fired many service winners and dropped only eight points in his games. The defending champion faced no break points and mounted the pressure on the other side.
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Alcaraz could not follow that pace and make the duel more interesting. The Spaniard struggled to impose his strokes against such a strong rival. He gave away 43% of the points in his games and suffered three breaks from ten opportunities provided to his opponent.
Sinner dominated with sharp and aggressive striking, earning many free points with his initial shot and pushing strong on the return. Carlos made a shaky start and dropped serve at 15 in the first game of the duel after a double fault.
The Italian held at 30 in the second game with an unreturned serve to confirm the advantage. The Spaniard reduced the deficit after the rival's backhand error in the third game, adding his name on the scoreboard.
World no. 2 served well in the fourth game and brought it home with a forehand winner for a 3-1 lead. Alcaraz struggled on serve again in the fifth game and netted a routine backhand to experience another break and fall 4-1 behind.
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Jannik provided another great hold in the sixth game, closing it with a smash winner and extendingthe gap. The Spaniard served to stay in the set at 1-5 and held at 30 with a service winner for more action.
However, Sinner landed service winners in the eighth game, wrapping up the first part of the encounter 6-2 in 27 minutes. World no. 1 closed the first game of the second set with a forehand down the line winner.
The Italian responded with a service winner in game two for 1-1. The Spaniard provided another fine hold in the third game, closing it with a backhand winner and already mirroring his tally from the opening set.
Dominating his games, Jannik fired winners in the fourth game and held at love for 2-2. Alcaraz experienced the ultimate test in the fifth game, playing against five break points.
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The world's best player stepped in and denied them, clinching the game with a forehand winner and remaining on the positive side, celebrating like he won the match.
Sinner left those chances behind and secured the sixth game with a powerful serve, locking the result at 3-3. The Italian made a push on the return in the seventh game and seized a break point with a volley winner at the net.
The defending champion held at 15 in the eighth game and opened a 5-3 gap. Serving to stay in the match at 3-5, Carlos landed a crafty drop shot and closed the game with a service winner to prolong the battle.
However, Jannik fired three winners at 5-4 to generate match points and seized the first with a forced error to celebrate the title defense and $6 million in prize money.
