The Six Kings Slam tennis tournament in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, has been postponed from October to December because of continued unrest in the Middle East and the recent bombing of the international airport in the Saudi capital.
The event, now in its third edition, awards £1.2m to each competing player and an extra £3.5m to the winner. It was originally scheduled for October 21-24 but will now take place from December 27-30.
The six players confirmed for 2026 are Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, Alexander Zverev, Taylor Fritz, Alex de Minaur and Learner Tien.
Organisers cite logistical concerns
Organisers said the decision reflects Riyadh Season’s commitment to delivering sporting events to the highest standards. In a statement, they pointed to an assessment of the organisational and logistical challenges of hosting the tournament and their potential impact on the quality of the audience experience.
Italy’s Jannik Sinner, who is currently sidelined by a knee complaint, won the Six Kings Slam in both 2024 and 2025, beating Alcaraz in the final on each occasion.
Security concerns across Saudi sport
Attacks have threatened to disrupt sport in Saudi Arabia. The Asian Tour in golf says it is monitoring the security situation ahead of the Saudi International in Riyadh next month.
The kingdom is also set to host the Asian Cup in football for the first time in 2027, a key test ahead of its hosting of the 2034 World Cup. It is also staging the FIFAe World Cup, an esports tournament run by FIFA, in Jeddah from October 16-25. The Japan Football Association has said it will not take part, following a comprehensive assessment of the current situation in the host country and the available information on safety and security. Football Australia says its security team is monitoring the situation.