<p>The Six Kings Slam is back for its second year, and the money on offer is ridiculous. We're talking $6 million to the winner - which is more than you get for winning the <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/events/us-open-tennis">US Open</a>.</p> <p>Netflix is streaming the whole thing live from October 15-18, which means Aussie tennis fans can watch Jannik Sinner defend his title against Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, and three other top players without paying extra.</p> <p>The tournament runs over three days in Riyadh (with a rest day in between because ATP rules say you can't play three days straight in an exhibition). It's not an official ATP event, so no ranking points, but the cash makes it worth showing up.</p> <h2>What Is the Six Kings Slam?</h2> <p>The Six Kings Slam is a tennis exhibition tournament held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, during Riyadh Season - which is basically a months-long festival of entertainment and sport the Saudis put on during their cooler months.</p> <p>It started in 2024 and immediately became one of the richest events in tennis. Not because of tradition or prestige, but because Saudi Arabia threw massive money at it to get the world's attention.</p> <p>The format is simple: six of the best tennis players in the world, knockout tournament starting from the quarterfinals. Two players get byes straight to the semis, four battle it out in the quarters. Best-of-three sets throughout.</p> <p>(And, if you don’t know what that means, here’s a handy guide on <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/huddle/tennis/tennis-news/how-tennis-scoring-works">how tennis scoring works</a>)</p> <p>Last year's inaugural event featured Rafael Nadal in one of his final appearances before retirement, plus Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz, and Jannik Sinner. Sinner beat Alcaraz in the final after being down a set.</p> <p>This year Nadal's out (he's retired now), but the rest of the big names are back with some fresh faces joining them.</p> <h2>2025 Six Kings Slam Players</h2> <p>Here's who's competing this year:</p> <p><strong>Carlos Alcaraz</strong> - World No. 1 and five-time Grand Slam champion. Lost last year's final to Sinner. Gets a bye straight to the semis.</p> <p><strong>Jannik Sinner </strong>- World No. 2 and defending champion. Won the tournament last year and has been on a tear through 2025. Plays in the quarters despite being defending champ.</p> <p><strong>Novak Djokovic </strong>- 24 Grand Slam titles. Lost to Sinner in last year's semis. Gets a bye straight to the semis alongside Alcaraz.</p> <p><strong>Alexander Zverev </strong>- Three-time Grand Slam finalist. Making his Six Kings Slam debut.</p> <p><strong>Taylor Fritz </strong>- 2024 US Open finalist. The American's first appearance at the event.</p> <p><strong>Stefanos Tsitsipas </strong>- 2019 ATP Finals champion. Replaced Jack Draper after the Brit pulled out with a season-ending arm injury.</p> <h2>Six Kings Slam 2025 Schedule (AEST)</h2> <p>The tournament takes place over three days, with October 17 as a mandatory rest day.</p> <p><strong>Wednesday, October 16, 2025</strong><br /> Quarterfinals</p> <ul> <li>Jannik Sinner vs Stefanos Tsitsipas - 12:30 AM AEST</li> <li>Alexander Zverev vs Taylor Fritz - Not before 2:30 AM AEST</li> </ul> <p><strong>Thursday, October 17, 2025</strong><br /> Semifinals</p> <ul> <li>Novak Djokovic vs Sinner/Tsitsipas winner - 12:30 AM AEST</li> <li>Carlos Alcaraz vs Zverev/Fritz winner - Not before 2:30 AM AEST</li> </ul> <p><strong>Friday, October 18, 2025</strong><br /> Rest Day (ATP rules)</p> <p><strong>Saturday, October 19, 2025</strong><br /> Finals Day</p> <ul> <li>Third Place Match - 12:30 AM AEST</li> <li>Championship Final - Not before 2:30 AM AEST</li> </ul> <p>The "not before" times mean matches could start later depending on how long the previous match goes.</p> <h2>Six Kings Slam Prize Money</h2> <p>The total prize pool is $13.5 million, which makes it one of the most lucrative tennis events in the world.</p> <p>Here's how it breaks down:</p> <p><strong>Winner: </strong>$6 million (includes the $1.5m participation fee)<br /> All other participants: $1.5 million guaranteed</p> <p>That's right: if you are good (or lucky) enough to be invited to play, you get $1.5 million just for showing up. Lose in the quarters? Still $1.5 million. Lose in the semis? Still $1.5 million. Only the winner gets extra.</p> <p>To put this in perspective:</p> <ul> <li>Jannik Sinner won $3.6 million for winning the 2024 US Open</li> <li>Carlos Alcaraz won $2.6 million for winning the 2024 French Open</li> <li>The Six Kings Slam winner's cheque is bigger than any single Grand Slam</li> </ul> <p>That's why everyone shows up despite it being an exhibition with no ranking points.</p> <h2>How to Watch Six Kings Slam in Australia</h2> <p>Netflix has exclusive global streaming rights for the 2025 Six Kings Slam.</p> <p>If you've got a Netflix subscription, you can watch the whole tournament at no extra cost. Just search for "Six Kings Slam" on Netflix from October 15-18.</p> <p>Netflix is going all out with the production, as their setup is made of over 20 cameras including drones, wirecams, robotic tech, and augmented reality graphics. They're treating it like a major sporting event rather than just another (very expensive) tennis match.</p> <p>The matches will be available live and on-demand, so if the AEST times don't work for you (most matches start after midnight Australian time), you can watch replays later.</p> <p><strong>What you need:</strong></p> <ul> <li>Active Netflix subscription</li> <li>Internet connection</li> <li>That's it</li> </ul> <p>No additional sports packages, no extra fees, no geo-blocking issues since Netflix has worldwide rights.</p> <h2>Why the Six Kings Slam Exists</h2> <p>Saudi Arabia is using sport to rebrand itself: they've brought in Formula 1, golf's LIV tour, boxing mega-fights, and now tennis exhibitions. The Six Kings Slam is part of Riyadh Season, which is all about making Saudi Arabia look like a happening place for global entertainment.</p> <p>The prize money is absurdly high because that's how you get the world's attention and convince top athletes to show up.</p> <p>For Saudi Arabia, the $13.5 million is not an investment made to target a short-term financial profit - it's almost like ‘pocket change’ compared to their overall budget for remaking their image.</p> <p>For the players, it's simple: they show up for three days, play some tennis, walk away with at least $1.5 million. Win the thing and you've made more than winning Wimbledon.</p> <h2>Six Kings Slam vs Grand Slams</h2> <p>The Six Kings Slam isn't trying to replace Grand Slams. It can't. It does not offer any ranking points, it has no historical significance, no two-week grind through seven rounds.</p> <p>But it does offer something Grand Slams don't: guaranteed money regardless of results.</p> <p>At a Grand Slam, lose in the first round and you get about $100,000. At the Six Kings Slam, lose in the quarters and you get $1.5 million. That's why lower-ranked players would do anyting for an invitation.</p> <p>The format is also different - starting at the quarterfinals with only six players means every match matters and features top-level tennis. No early round mismatches against players ranked outside the top 100.</p> <p>For fans, the appeal is simple: you're guaranteed high-quality matches. When Sinner plays Alcaraz or Djokovic plays…well, anyone, that's must-watch tennis regardless of whether ranking points are involved.</p> <h2>What to Expect from the 2025 Edition</h2> <p>Last year's tournament delivered some brilliant tennis despite being "just an exhibition." The Djokovic vs Nadal semifinal was emotional given Nadal's impending retirement. The Sinner vs Alcaraz final went three sets and was genuinely competitive.</p> <p>This year should be even better because:</p> <ol> <li><strong>Sinner is defending champion</strong> - He's world No. 2 and has been the most dominant player in 2025 together with Carlos Alcaraz. Watching him try to repeat will be interesting.<br /> &nbsp;</li> <li><strong>Alcaraz wants revenge</strong> - He lost last year's final after being up a set. That'll be in his head if they meet again.<br /> &nbsp;</li> <li><strong>Djokovic is still Djokovic</strong> - At 38 he's not the force he once was, but he's still capable of beating anyone on a given day.<br /> &nbsp;</li> <li><strong>Fresh matchups </strong>- Zverev, Fritz, and Tsitsipas bring different styles and create new potential battles we don't see as often.<br /> &nbsp;</li> <li><strong>Better production </strong>- Netflix's first year doing live tennis, they'll want to make a statement with the broadcast quality.<br /> &nbsp;</li> </ol> <p>The timing is smart too - coming right after the Shanghai Masters means players are match-fit and in form. And holding it in October means decent weather in Riyadh (not the brutal heat of summer).</p> <h2>Is the Six Kings Slam Worth Watching?</h2> <p>If you like tennis and you've got Netflix, yes.</p> <p>You're getting world-class players at the peak of their powers playing competitive matches. Sure, there's no trophy that matters for history books, but the tennis itself will be quality.</p> <p>The late-night AEST times can be somewhat annoying for Australian viewers - most matches start after midnight - but that's what replays are for. Netflix will have everything available on-demand.</p> <p>For fans who know <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/huddle/punter-iq/guide/how-to-bet-on-tennis">how to bet on tennis</a>, there may be some value opportunities, though exhibition matches are trickier to predict since the pressure is different. Players are guaranteed their money regardless of results, which can change how they approach matches.</p> <p>The real question is whether you care about the context. If you only watch tennis for ranking points and Grand Slam glory, maybe skip it. If you just want to watch great players compete at a high level, the Six Kings Slam delivers that.</p> <h2>Frequently Asked Questions</h2> <p><strong>Is the Six Kings Slam an official ATP event?</strong></p> <p>No. It's an exhibition tournament, which means no ATP ranking points are awarded and the matches don't count towards official head-to-head records.</p> <p><strong>Why is the Six Kings Slam prize money so high?</strong></p> <p>Saudi Arabia is using the tournament as part of its broader strategy to host major sporting events and reshape its global image. The high prize money ensures top players participate.</p> <p><strong>Can I watch the Six Kings Slam in Australia?</strong></p> <p>Yes, it's streaming exclusively on Netflix in Australia from October 15-18, 2025. No additional subscription needed beyond standard Netflix.</p> <p><strong>Who won the 2024 Six Kings Slam?</strong></p> <p>Jannik Sinner defeated Carlos Alcaraz 6-7, 6-3, 6-3 in the final to win the inaugural tournament and the $6 million prize.</p> <p><strong>What time do matches start in Australia?</strong></p> <p>Most matches begin at 12:30 AM AEST (after midnight), with second matches starting no earlier than 2:30 AM AEST. All times are very late for Australian viewers.</p> <p><strong>Do players take exhibition tournaments seriously?</strong></p> <p>It varies. With $6 million on the line, most players will compete hard. But the guaranteed $1.5 million participation fee means there's less pressure than in ranking-point events.</p>