A blockbuster showdown is on the cards as arch-rivals and two of the tour’s brightest stars, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, face off in the Six Kings Slam final. Both have been in scintillating form since the start of the 2025 season, making it an unmissable clash for tennis fans worldwide.
While the earlier matches took place on October 15 and 16, the organizers have slated the final for Saturday, October 18, giving both Sinner and Alcaraz a full day’s breather. But why won’t they play their final on Friday instead of Saturday, October 18? Let’s have a closer look at it.
Why Is There a Rest Day Before the Six Kings Slam Final Between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner?
The Six Kings Slam has built its reputation on featuring elite competition, drawing some of the biggest names in the sport. Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic earned direct entry into the semifinals owing to their Grand Slam success, while Sinner and Taylor Fritz booked their spots in the last four with victories over Stefanos Tsitsipas and Alexander Zverev, respectively.
Alcaraz overcame Fritz on Thursday, while Sinner got past Djokovic the same day to set up a blockbuster final on Saturday. Notably, the one-day gap before the title clash follows the tournament’s “two days on, one day off” scheduling pattern.
The scheduling tweak stems from ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) regulations, which revoke a player’s “Platinum Status” if they compete in unofficial events spanning three or more consecutive days. To avoid breaching the ATP rules, the tournament’s organizers, the General Entertainment Authority, structured the tournament so that no phase exceeds two straight days of play.
It is also worth noting that the Platinum Status plays a pivotal role for the players on tour, as it unlocks their share of the ATP’s end-of-year bonus pool, designed to reward top talent. Last year, the pool stood at roughly $12.5 million.
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The ATP norms are a primary factor in the Six Kings Slam schedule, but there’s another crucial reason the final is slated for Saturday. The tournament is being held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and Friday serves as the country’s official weekly holiday for religious observance, creating an additional rationale for the day off before the final.
It is worth noting that the tournament also included a match to decide third place, featuring the two players defeated in the semifinals. This year, World No. 5 Djokovic will take on World No. 4 Fritz right before the final on Saturday. Notably, the same format was followed in the tournament’s previous edition as well.
