Even the very fittest players on tour have struggled with the conditions in Shanghai.
Suffering one of the most shocking defeats of his career, four-time Grand Slam winner Jannik Sinner retired during his third-round match with Tallon Griekspoor at the Shanghai Masters.
The Italian was unable to continue as he struggled with severe cramps in the sweltering conditions in China.
Top-five players Alexander Zverev and Taylor Fritz also fell victim to the heat, losing in the third round.
Sinner, Zverev, and Fritz are all scheduled to participate in a big-money exhibition event in Saudi Arabia later this month, although their attendance is now uncertain, having struggled at the Shanghai Masters.
They aren’t the only players set to attend who are less than 100% fit, as the tournament may now be in real trouble…
Five players at the Six Kings Slam aren’t fully fit
Eight days from now, six of the biggest names in men’s tennis will compete for a $6 million prize in Saudi Arabia at the Six Kings Slam.
- Carlos Alcaraz – ATP #1
- Jannik Sinner – ATP #2
- Alexander Zverev – ATP #3
- Taylor Fritz – ATP #4
- Novak Djokovic – ATP #5
- Stefanos Tsitsipas – ATP #25
Unfortunately for the Six Kings Slam organizers, there are real concerns emerging about the fitness of the players listed above.
| Player | Shanghai Masters result | Fitness question |
| Jannik Sinner | Lost in 3R to Tallon Griekspoor | Severe cramps in Shanghai |
| Carlos Alcaraz | Withdrew before the tournament | Left ankle injury in Tokyo |
| Alexander Zverev | Lost in 2R to Arthur Rinderknech | Potential toe injury – Questioning if he will ‘ever be healthy’ in 2025 |
| Taylor Fritz | Lost in 2R to Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard | Left thigh injury in Tokyo – Suggested he needed a break after Shanghai |
| Novak Djokovic | 4R vs Jaume Munar* | – |
| Stefanos Tsitsipas | Withdrew before tournament | Left leg injury before Shanghai |
Making their debut on Netflix in 2025 and offering up record prize money, the Six Kings Slam won’t want to lose anyone from their star-studded line-up.
They’ve already seen Jack Draper withdraw from the event, after the Brit announced an early end to his 2025 season due to injury.
With five players struggling for fitness, perhaps the powers that be should be making a few calls, trying to secure one or two alternates for the event…
Who should the Six Kings Slam sign up as an alternate?
With millions of dollars up for grabs, you won’t find many players turning down a chance to travel to Saudi Arabia for the Six Kings Slam.
But who should the event organizers look to bring in if one of the big names drops out?
Holger Rune
Denmark’s Holger Rune was a contestant in the inaugural Six Kings Slam, losing out to Alcaraz in the quarterfinals.
The 22-year-old has long been touted as a future Grand Slam champion and has grown a large fan base over recent years.
His matches rarely fail to entertain, and he has proven he can compete with the very best on the ATP Tour on several occasions.
Having enjoyed a strong week in Shanghai, Rune would enter the event with momentum on his side, looking to cause a few upsets at the Six Kings Slam.
Matteo Berrettini
Things haven’t quite gone to plan for Matteo Berrettini since he reached his maiden Grand Slam final at Wimbledon four years ago.
Injuries have prevented him from pushing on, although that might not stop him from getting the invite to Saudi Arabia.
In 2024, Berrettini became an ambassador for the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund, following in the footsteps of Rafael Nadal.
What better way to reward the 29-year-old for his efforts in promoting tennis within the country than to give him a chance to compete for a $6 million prize at the Six Kings Slam in Riyadh?
Stan Wawrinka
Recognizing the three-time Grand Slam champion’s career achievements, the Shanghai Masters awarded Stan Wawrinka a wildcard in 2025.
Should one of Alcaraz, Sinner, Fritz, Zverev, Djokovic, or Tsitsipas pull out of the exhibition in Saudi Arabia, perhaps the Six Kings Slam organizers should do the same.
Few players would bring more star power to the event than Wawrinka, and at age 40, he is still one of the most entertaining players to watch.
Whether Rune, Berrettini, or Wawrinka are either needed or wanted in Saudi Arabia remains to be seen, but it will certainly be something to look out for.
The 2025 Six Kings Slam is scheduled to begin on Wednesday, October 15 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
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