As the season winds down, it feels bittersweet. But tennis exhibitions always bring back some fire, and the Six Kings Slam is about to do just that! Since debuting last year, the Riyadh event has been the talk of the town, featuring six of the top ATP-ranked players. Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, and more lit up the court for jaw-dropping prize money. Each of the six players was guaranteed $1.5 million just for showing up, with the winner grabbing a massive $6 million. Now, as its second edition rolls around, the question is: What’s at stake this time?

What is the total prize money for the Six Kings Slam 2025?

Saudi Arabia is turning up the spotlight this week with the high-stakes Six Kings Slam, where five of the world’s top ten men are set to battle for serious cash and bragging rights. The exhibition comes with a massive $13.5 million prize pool, matching last year’s total. Each player has a locked-in participation fee of $1.5 million, while the champion will earn an additional $4.5 million, taking home a total of $6 million, which was won by Jannik Sinner last year. Some players are also said to have banked seven-figure appearance fees just to compete.

There are no ATP ranking points or head-to-head records on the line here, just pure tennis entertainment. Matches will take place on Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday since ATP rules prevent players from playing exhibitions three days in a row. The ANB Arena, an 8,000-seater arena in Riyadh, will host the action as part of the city’s annual Riyadh Season, which mixes sports and concerts in a festival of lights. The three-set matches will stream live on Netflix after being shown on DAZN last year. So, who’s vying for this prize this year?

Who are the players competing in the 2025 Six Kings Slam?

As the name suggests, only six players make up the main draw at this week’s event, which means the format needs a twist. The setup, already used in 2024, gives two top seeds a straight ticket to the semifinals, while the other four fight it out for the remaining spots. It’s an all-star lineup featuring world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz, No. 2 Jannik Sinner, No. 3 Alexander Zverev, 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic, world No. 4 Taylor Fritz, and two-time major finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas, who steps in for Jack Draper after the Brit ended his season early with an arm injury.

The seeds are exactly who you’d expect: Djokovic and Alcaraz, the two biggest Grand Slam collectors on the list, with 24 and six titles each. They sit on opposite halves of the draw, which means a blockbuster final between them is still on the table. The opening round features Sinner against Stefanos Tsitsipas for a shot at Nole’s side of the draw. On the top half, Zverev and Fritz meet in a clash of heavy hitters, with the winner earning a semifinal date with Alcaraz.

As with most exhibition events, the mission is to entertain and bring the sport to new fans. Organizers know world-class names fill seats and screens alike. History backs that up. Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal once drew a crowd of 51,954 fans in Cape Town in 2020, setting a record attendance for a tennis match, even if it did not count officially.

Few stars embrace the spirit of these events like Carlos Alcaraz. The Spaniard loves to keep the crowds guessing with his flair and creativity. Earlier this year, he faced Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe in New York and North Carolina, then joined Tiafoe again for an event in Puerto Rico. In December, he’s expected to appear alongside Emma Raducanu and Amanda Anisimova in New Jersey. On the other hand, the tournament hasn’t exactly been in the good books with other tournaments. Many might even criticize it for the prize pot!

How does the Six Kings Slam prize money compare to other tennis tournaments?

Each of the six superstars at the event gets a guaranteed participation fee of $1.5 million, and the champion will pocket an extra $4.5 million, bringing the total to $6 million—easily eclipsing the prize money the singles champion receives at the Grand Slams.​

Across the Grand Slams in 2025, the money on offer is still eye-catching. The Australian Open winner claims $3,500,000 and the runner-up receives $1,900,000. At Roland Garros, the champion earns €2,550,000 (29,49,878.25 USD) while the finalist gets €1,275,000 (14,74,939.12 USD). Wimbledon’s champion takes home £3,000,000 (39,99,900 USD), with £1,520,000 (20,26,616 USD) for the runner-up. The US Open tops the Grand Slam charts with $5,000,000 for the winner and $2,500,000 for the finalist.​

The ATP Masters tournaments present big numbers for overall prize funds, but the individual payouts barely compare. Indian Wells and Miami reach just over $19 million each for their total pools. Madrid and Rome both come in above $9.3 million, with Monte Carlo slightly behind in euros. Toronto, Montreal, Cincinnati, and Shanghai all offer about $9.2 million each, while Cincinnati’s WTA event features a $5.1 million pool.​

As anticipation builds in Riyadh, tennis fans are ready for the desert showdown. Top players like Zverev and Sinner are already in town, with Alcaraz, Djokovic, Fritz, and Tsitsipas set to light up the tournament. With the Six Kings Slam starting on Wednesday, speculation is swirling over who will walk away with the record-breaking prize and global attention. Drop your thoughts below! Who do you think will walk away with this prize?