"Does it help the sport?" - Mark Petchey questions Six Kings Slam's timing ft. Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, others; points at ATP Tour neglect

Mark Petchey has criticized the Six Kings Slam in Riyadh for 'crowbarring' itself into the tennis schedule. The English commentator argued that the event in Riyadh would take the attention away from the simultaneously held ATP 250 events.

The Six Kings Slam is in full swing, featuring top players like Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz, and Jannik Sinner. The event, which began on October 16, is also among the farewell tournaments leading up to Nadal's retirement, adding extra significance to the competition for his fans.

Meanwhile, several other 250-level tournaments, such as the Almaty Open and the European events, are also taking place. Given this, English commentator Mark Petchey lamented the timing of the exhibition tournament, suggesting it overshadows smaller ATP 250 events that rely heavily on attention and media coverage.

"What’s everyone feeling about the Six Kings exhibition being crowbarred into a week that takes the focus off the smaller events that are desperate for eyeballs and column inches? Does it diminish the 250’s standings? Does it help the sport? The optics feel like the Six Kings of the Desert and the European peasants."

Recently, during the quarterfinal match between Daniil Medvedev and Jannik Sinner at the Six Kings Slam, fans criticized the broadcast's camera angle. The high camera angle made it difficult for viewers to follow the ball clearly on television.

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Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic got their SF opponents at the Six Kings Slam

Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic at 2024 Summer Olympics - Source: Getty

Novak Djokovic, who received a bye directly to the semifinals, will face Jannik Sinner. The Italian secured his spot in the last four after defeating Daniil Medvedev in the quarterfinals.

Sinner dominated from the start, not allowing the Russian to win a game in the first set, which he won 6-0. The Italian carried his dominance in the second set, winning 6-3. Djokovic and Sinner have met on tour eight times, each claiming four victories.

Meanwhile, Rafael Nadal is set to face Carlos Alcaraz in the semifinals of the exhibition tournament. The 21-year-old defeated Holger Rune 6-4, 6-2 to advance further. Nadal has faced Alcaraz thrice on tour and holds a 2-1 advantage in their head-to-head record.

Although the Six Kings Slam does not award ATP ranking points, it offers substantial prize money. Each of the six participants is guaranteed a minimum of $1.5 million, with the winner set to claim $6 million, the largest prize in sports history.