The Six Kings Slam exhibition featuring Alex de Minaur has been postponed.
De Minaur signed up for the big-money exhibition earlier this year, skipping a chance to play ATP 250 events in Brussels, Almaty, or Lyon. It was a sensible choice, with $6 million up for grabs, but now that the tournament has been postponed, the Aussie might regret his decision.
Especially given his place in the ‘Live ATP Race to Turin’. As things stand, De Minaur will miss out on a spot at the ATP Finals. He could really use the 250 ranking points he might have earned elsewhere…
Alex de Minaur is less than 250 points away from an ATP Finals qualification place
After Rafael Jodar defeated Casper Ruud in the Shanghai Masters quarter-finals, the Spaniard jumped ahead of De Minaur into the final ATP Finals qualification place. With Jannik Sinner out injured, the player occupying the ninth spot in the ‘Live ATP Race to Turin’ will advance to the year-end championships.
Live ATP Race to Turin
| Rank | Player | Country | Points | Status |
| 1 | Alexander Zverev | Germany | 9,150 | Qualified |
| 2 | Jannik Sinner | Italy | 7,950 | Won’t play |
| 3 | Carlos Alcaraz | Spain | 4,600 | Qualified |
| 4 | Ben Shelton | USA | 4,480 | Qualified |
| 5 | Flavio Cobolli | Italy | 3,540 | Currently qualifying |
| 6 | Frances Tiafoe | USA | 3,380 | Currently qualifying |
| 7 | Arthur Fils | France | 3,325 | Currently qualifying |
| 8 | Daniil Medvedev | Russia | 3,220 | Currently qualifying |
| 9 | Rafael Jodar | Spain | 2,909 | Currently qualifying |
| 10 | Alex de Minaur | Australia | 2,880 | Not currently qualifying |
| 11 | Novak Djokovic | Serbia | 2,840 | Not currently qualifying |
| 12 | Tommy Paul | USA | 2,585 | Not currently qualifying |
De Minaur remains within touching distance of Jodar (29 points), although that gap could widen to over 600 points if the 20-year-old wins the title in Shanghai. With that in mind, De Minaur needs every point he can get. Unfortunately for the Aussie, he passed up the chance to earn 250 points when he accepted a place in the Six Kings Slam, which has now been postponed.
If the Six Kings Slam in Saudi Arabia had never existed, De Minaur would likely have played one of the three ATP 250 tournaments and would have been a favourite to take home the title and all 250 points.
Unless he receives a last-minute wild card for Brussels, Lyon, or Almaty, the Australian number one will spend a week on the sidelines, potentially watching his ATP Finals dream slip away.
How long do you think Alexander Zverev keeps the number one ranking?
He is now guaranteed to be year end number one after Carlos Alcaraz’s shock loss in Shanghai…
The good news for De Minaur is that he can still earn another 1,500 points before the ATP Finals cut-off. He has entered the ATP 500 Vienna Open and the Paris Masters. De Minaur will need to improve his level if he is to travel to Turin next month, but he’s still in with a fighting chance.
Why the Six Kings Slam was postponed
De Minaur’s Turin chances hang in the balance, partly due to his commitment to the now-postponed Six Kings Slam, but what happened to the Saudi Arabian exhibition? ‘Riyadh Season’, the organisers of the event, released this official statement.
“Riyadh season has announced the postponement of the third edition of the international ‘Six Kings Slam’ tennis tournament, originally scheduled for October 21, 22, and 24, to December 27-30, 2026,” they wrote.
“The decision reflects Riyadh Season’s commitment to delivering sporting events to the highest standards, following an assessment of the organizational and logistical challenges associated with hosting the tournament and their potential impact on the quality of the audience experience.
“Riyadh Season expressed its appreciation to all players, partners, and tennis fans from across the Kingdom and abroad for their continued interest, reaffirming its commitment to delivering world-class sporting experiences that meet audience expectations and continuing preparations to host the tournament on its rescheduled dates, ensuring that the anticipated experience is delivered as envisioned.”
Many expected the event to be postponed due to the ongoing uncertainty in the Middle East, but an incident in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, gave organisers little to no choice. They have rescheduled the Six Kings Slam for December, during tennis’ off-season, although you wouldn’t be surprised to see the event cancelled by then.
