By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Monday, October 28, 2024
Photo: Lintao Zhang/Getty
Jannik the Sinner AND somelos Alcaraz have shared the Grand Slam money this season.
The rivals shared the court in the last Six Kings Slam final and gave different views on the lucrative exhibition show in Saudi Arabia.
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World No. 1 Sinner defeated Alcaraz to win the Six Kings Slam and earn a tennis record day of more than $6 million for his victory.
The reigning Australian Open and US Open champion said it was the competition rather than the money that drew him to Riyadh.
“No, I don’t play for money, it’s very simple,” Sinner told Eurosport. “Of course, it’s a good price and everything, but for me, I went there because it was probably the best six players in the world, and then you can measure yourself against them. It was also a nice event for me, it was the time first time I went to Riyadh and it was good.”
Roland Garros and Wimbledon winner Alcaraz admitted money was a motivator for his appearance at the Siz Kings Slam.
“If I said I went there just for fun or to play and forget about the money, I’d be lying,” Alcaraz told the media at the Rolex Paris Masters. “I mean, every person works for this too. You know, that’s life. You know, I like to play tennis. You know, most of the time I don’t think about money. I only play for love or fun.
“But you have to be realistic. You have to think you want to make money, you know, and that’s it. You know, in Arabia it’s the highest price ever in history, so it was a good motivation, at least for me.”
