New 'Slam' will feature Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Carlos Alcaraz and others

Would you be interested in a tournament that is guaranteed to feature Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz, and three other top players? Of course, you would. We all would. And now we are about to get one.

The "6 Kings Slam" is a newly announced exhibition that will take place in Saudi Arabia in October 2024. Besides Nadal, Alcaraz, and Djokovic, Jannik Sinner, Daniil Medvedev, and Holger Rune. Maybe there are no rankings points involved in the tournament, but if you love tennis and like watching it played at a high level, this exhibition seems like it will be fun.

Sure, this is a bit of a money grab. Each player will get paid likely quite a bit to take time out of the late-season schedule - post-US Open and pre-ATP Finals - to play an event that is basically meaningless. For Nadal, the event makes the most sense as he recently became an ambassador for the Saudi Arabian Tennis Federation. Without truly knowing, one might safely guess that Nadal had a hand in getting the other top players involved.

6 Kings Slam will feature Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz, and others

Each player released a short statement after the exhibition was announced. Most are along the lines of, "Happy to be a part and go team!" Medvedev had the longest response by saying, "I am really looking forward to coming back to Saudi. Ever since my first trip in 2019, I have been back several times and really looking forward to being part of this new event. The best players in the world all in one place is exciting. I cannot wait to see everyone out there."

Medvedev also has the most experience playing in Saudi Arabia. He has played in the country six times. He won the Diriyah Tennis Cup in 2019 and made the final again in 2022. Alcaraz and Djokovic played an exhibition in late December in Riyadh so they won't be strangers to playing tennis in the country either. Sinner, Nadal, and Rune have never played in Saudi Arabia.

Let's hope watching the tournament will be just as entertaining for fans as playing will be for players. There likely will be a lot of theatrics surrounding the event. But that likely means both political and between players.

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