Six Kings Slam 2024: Saudi Arabia shows off its millionaire muscle in Nadal’s penultimate parade | Tennis | Sports

A week after announcing his farewell, Rafael Nadal enters the scene again and does so within the framework of a million-dollar exhibition in which the participants will binge on millions. He (38 years old), Novak Djokovic (37), Carlos Alcaraz (21), Jannik Sinner (23), Daniil Medvedev (28) and Holger Rune (21) will decide from this Wednesday the distribution of the most astronomical prize in history, for above those awarded by the four Grand Slams. Money is raining in the desert: 1.5 million dollars (1.3 euros) for each of the protagonists, just for jumping onto the track, and up to 6 (5.5) for the final winner, who will be known on Saturday. In the background, Saudi Arabia. And Riyadh as a setting. Nothing new, really. For some time now, the Arab country has fully entered the sports scene and seduces and captivates with astronomical figures, both top footballers and golfer Jon Rahm. Also to the veteran Nadal, the perfect trompe l’oeil—success, exquisite forms in battle and bonhomie of the hand—for a regime that systematically violates human rights.

The Tennis player, soon to leave, returns to the stage before the final close of his career, in mid-November at the Davis Cup in Malaga. He does so already in his recognized performance as ambassador of Arab tennis – as made official by the Saudi Tennis Federation (STF) in mid-January – and with the intention of gauging how he is, in another step towards the long-awaited improvement ahead of the finale of just over a month, where he will try to lead a victory for Spain. The Mallorcan landed in the city on Monday and since then has rehearsed with Rune and the local player Ammar Faleh Alojaban, 26, before this Thursday’s debut against Alcaraz, superior on the opening day to the Danish Rune (6-4 and 6-2). In any case, Arabia has what it wanted: the men’s circuit is currently hosting official tournaments in Stockholm and Antwerp, but the tennis planet (and the global environment) now looks towards Riyadh.

As if that were not enough, the recent announcement of the withdrawal of the champion of 22 majors has been the perfect spur for the claim. It matters little that it is an exhibition, mere recreation. The marketing meeting of the six kings (Six Kings Slam) at The Venue—built expressly for the event and with a capacity for 8,000 people—is another warning of the emerging power of the Saudis in a sport that previously frowned at the idea of ​​landing there, but today, like many others, disciplines, be it football, golf, Formula 1 or boxing, answer the call and gladly extend the checkbook. Zeros govern today what is called “industry” and reluctance is in the past, and a saving reasoning is projected from the offices: “They are changing, you cannot turn your back on them.” However, the latest Amnesty International report (2023) continues to denounce a bloody reality, with torture, humiliation, attacks on freedom of expression, illegal trials, persecution of homosexuality and migrants, contempt for the environment and the violation of the rights of women and girls.

In the midst of everything, sport continues to make its way. Tennis, specifically, has organized the Masters Cup for promising players under 21 years of age since last year in Arabia (Next Gen ATP Finals) and beyond the exhibitions, in December and now this October, aims to gain considerable weight in the calendar. According to English media reports for some time, the objective of their federation is to organize a Masters 1000 – the most relevant tournaments after the four majors – presumably at the beginning of the year. There is talk of hidden negotiations and a perfect publicity maneuver this week, with Djokovic and Nadal at the helm, and in their wake the new talents and the best representative of the intermediate generation, Medvedev. Tickets range between 88 and 553 euros, and the presence of the Balearic artist acts as an unbeatable bait. He has not competed since the Paris Games—since the elimination in the doubles on July 31—and will star in his penultimate professional dance.

The tennis players and the cake

“This tournament is not just about winning, it serves to unite people and enjoy the spirit of sport,” Nadal transmits in a publicity video. “I haven’t played in a while, so I’m looking forward to everything starting. I don’t know what will happen, because we are talking about the best in the world, but my expectations are not very high; “I just want to be on the court and for the fans to enjoy the entertainment,” he adds in a statement collected by DAZN, in which he also jokes about a potential duel with Djokovic — “we have faced each other many times, it is not necessary” — and qualifies as positive that “another country is open to creating great events during other times of the calendar.” The episode surely offers clues about his current physical and tennis status, in a season in which he has only been able to play 19 matches, spread over seven tournaments. His last intervention was the Olympic one, and since then he has been ruling out options until saying goodbye in advance.

For some time now, tennis players have been demanding a larger share of the pie from Grand Slam revenues, and Saudi Arabia is stepping up to the plate with millions. While the investment in one of the traditional events requires the figures of two long weeks of competition and seven matches to win the title, the it was current inflates the pockets like never before – Australia awards the champion with 1.9 million euros, Roland Garros with 2.4 and Wimbledon and the US Open with 3.2 – in just four days. They capture the best, and also the women. In April it was announced that, for the first time, Riyadh will host the next edition of the Masters Cup – between November 2 and 9, under the direction of the Spanish Garbiñe Muguruza, who retired in April – despite the initial doubts they had. the leaders of the WTA, intoxicated in the end by the economic temptation. The Saudi muscle, therefore, continues to make its way into the world of the racket in a maneuver that is only a starting point, while the production of content around the event and its resonance multiply. The century of clickbait.

Everyone wants to get a cut. And, in the meantime, two fast appetizers—less than two hours to resolve the first two fights—and the presence of Neymar, who palled around with Alcaraz on the court at night. The 32-year-old Brazilian joined the Saudi league last season and his time has resulted in injuries, five games and, for each year signed, 100 million more in the bank. He laughed with the Murcian, eager to face Nadal; the third between the two, the fourth if the exhibition they played in March in Las Vegas is taken into account, at a rate (unofficially) of 1.5 million per head. “I don’t know if it’s a privilege to play against him once again or if it’s going to be complicated for me, but I’ll try to enjoy sharing the court with him. It’s difficult for everyone. I’ve seen him at the hotel, I’ve talked to him a little; about tennis and also about life. Tomorrow I’m going to go all out, a ful“It doesn’t surprise me that he is training one hundred percent and feeling the ball very well,” the number two said goodbye.

He renounced Arabia. Today, everyone wants fish over there.