Six Kings Slam: Novak Djokovic Out As Jannik Sinner Takes On Carlos Alcaraz In Final

 

Jannik Sinner is still the man to beat for Novak Djokovic after losing to the top seed in three sets, 6-2 6-7 6-4 at the Six Kings Slam exhibition tournament in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. 

Having to lose to Jannik made it a back-to-back defeat of Djokovic within a week - the lost will not be counted in head-to-head encounter since it is an exhibition. The world number one had just defeated the Serbian at the Shanghai Masters 1000 in China, snapping his quest for his 100th ATP singles title. 

Even as the exhibition tournament is without ATP ranking points, it was a tense match for both players. Though the opener was somewhat of ease for Jannik, Djokovic rallied to seize a tiebreak to claim the second set. However, he could not complete his rally in the third as Jannik claimed a break at 4-4 and went on to complete the rout to book his place in the final. 

"We all raise our level and try to play every point the best possible way," remarked Jannik. "Obviously, that's never easy. But we take it quite seriously."

In a separate match, Carlos Alcaraz also defeated his countryman and idol, Rafael Nadal 6-3 6-3. The match obviously will be one of the last professional matches from Nadal following the announcement of his retirement after Davis Cup..

Alcaraz will now proceed to the final to play against Jannik in the final. The encounter will be the pair's first since China Open, which Alcaraz won in three sets, 6-7(6) 6-4 7-6(3). Winning the tournament comes with the price tag of more than £4million.