
Jannik Sinner continued his impressive run against Novak Djokovic, securing a victory in the semifinals of the big-money Six Kings Slam exhibition. The Italian's 6-4, 6-2 win extends his streak over the 24-time Grand Slam champion, paving the way for an anticipated final against rival Carlos Alcaraz. Earlier in the day, Alcaraz made a strong return to the court following an ankle injury, defeating Taylor Fritz 6-4, 6-2 to earn his spot in Saturday's championship match.
Djokovic did not mince words following his defeat, admitting that Sinner “kicked my arse” on court. "Excuse my language, but it's never nice when somebody kicks your a** like this on the court,” Djokovic told the crowd during a rare on-court interview for a losing player. He added, “I would like if someone could trade a younger body with me. Just for a year so I can try to win against these guys. Jokes aside, I still have the drive… I’m gonna keep on challenging them until it happens.”
Sinner, for his part, delivered a near-perfect performance, highlighted by 27 winners to just five unforced errors and dropping only eight points on serve. The Italian expressed satisfaction with his recent improvements, particularly on his serve. "I wish it would be every, every time like this, but no we try to, to work on things, we try to get better as a player," Sinner commented on his serving display.
The Six Kings Slam final on Saturday will mark another chapter in the Sinner-Alcaraz rivalry, with Sinner aiming to defend his title and the lucrative $4.5 million prize money. The exhibition tournament, held over three days in Riyadh, offers each player a $1.5 million appearance fee and is streamed live on Netflix. Djokovic will compete for third place against Taylor Fritz.