The ATP Tour has quickly moved on from the Shanghai Masters, with Jannik Sinner having emerged victorious from the event.
Kazakhstan and Sweden host the Almaty Open and Nordic Open respectively this week, although several star names are elsewhere.
Sinner is in Riyadh for the Six Kings Slam, with the Italian joined by Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz, Daniil Medvedev and Holger Rune.
Aiming to improve the appeal of Saudi Arabia’s capital, the tournament also represents one of Nadal’s final appearances before retirement.
The Spaniard will attract plenty of attention after his recent announcement, with the 22-time Grand Slam winner set to call time on his career next month.
Greg Rusedski makes Jannik Sinner claim ahead of Six Kings Slam
But the most in-form man going into the event is Sinner, who has secured the year-end number one spot.
He overcame Djokovic to clinch the Shanghai Masters title on Sunday, with Greg Rusedski now labelling the Italian the most improved player in 2024.
“Sinner to me is the most improved player this year bar none,” he said on the Six Kings Slam Preview Show on DAZN Sport.
“Seven titles, ending the season world number one officially and he has won his first two majors in two times being in major finals. Alcaraz has done it four times, four major finals, four wins.
“These guys are real and they came just at the right time. Whenever you have three legends who are going to disappear, because Djokovic will be there maybe three years, these guys are the guys who can bear that torch for the next decade.”
Jannik Sinner breaks Tomas Machac’s racket on way to Shanghai Masters title
Sinner has enjoyed a simply phenomenal season, with the world number one winning his seventh title in Shanghai.
He is well ahead of Alcaraz in the year-end rankings, and unsurprisingly remains top of the ATP Tour world rankings.
Sinner broke Tomas Machac’s racket on his way to the Shanghai Masters title, such was his power in their semi-final clash.
He also beat the likes of Medvedev and Ben Shelton on his way to success, dropping just one set at the Chinese tournament.
And in a scary thought, further success is very much on the cards between now and the end of the season for the 23-year-old.
Sinner has undoubtedly been a class above this season, although he has shared the four Grand Slam titles with Alcaraz.
The former won the Australian Open and US Open, with the latter emerging victorious from the French Open and Wimbledon.
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