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Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have dominated the ATP Tour this year, sharing the four Grand Slam titles between them. While Alcaraz has rarely faltered on the tour, he made headlines recently with strong words against the tight ATP schedule. The 21-year-old Spaniard will begin his Paris Masters campaign on Tuesday in a Round of 32 match against Nicolas Jarry. The Rolex Paris Masters marks his 16th tournament on the current ATP Tour. Despite his concerns about the impact of such a demanding schedule, Alcaraz recently played in the Six Kings Slams exhibition event in Riyadh. The World No. 2 has now explained why he chose to participate in this exhibition event.
"Money was a good motivation," says Carlos Alcaraz about playing at the Six Kings Slam in Riyadh
The inaugural edition of the Six Kings Slam exhibition in Saudi Arabia drew criticism for scheduling itself amid an already busy ATP calendar. Despite the backlash, the event enjoyed notable success. The organizers ensured it featured all the elements necessary for a prominent run. With substantial winnings on offer, the event attracted top players, from World No. 1 Jannik Sinner to his rival Carlos Alcaraz. The highlight of the tournament was the participation of Rafael Nadal, while Novak Djokovic’s presence added to the excitement, promising one last court meeting between longtime rivals.
Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz set up a high-stakes final by defeating Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal in their respective semi-finals. Sinner ultimately broke his streak of three losses to Alcaraz to claim the title and the $6 million prize. Now, as the stars prepare to compete in the ATP Masters 1000 event in Paris, Carlos Alcaraz has shared why he chose to play in the Six Kings Slam, despite the event not benfeting his ATP points and standings. The 21-year-old revealed that financial incentives motivated him to travel to Saudi Arabia for the exhibition.
"I love playing tennis. You know, most of the time I don’t think about the money. I just play for love or for fun. But you have to be realistic. You have to think that you want to earn money, you know, and that’s it," Alcaraz told reporters on Monday. "In Arabia, it is the most, highest prize money ever, so that was a good motivation, at least for me," he revealed.
Currently ranked second in the ATP Rankings, Carlos Alcaraz has already qualified for the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin. However, the Spaniard aims to improve his performance at the ongoing ATP Masters 1000 Tournament in Paris. His best result here so far has been a quarter-final finish. Starting his campaign against Nicolas Jarry on Tuesday, Alcaraz will look to contend for his fifth title of the season.