Six Kings Slam: Sinner reinstated, Learner Tien loses his place

The suspense ended on Monday. By reposting an Instagram story with a Six Kings Slam poster bearing his likeness, Jannik Sinner confirmed his grand return: it will be in Riyadh, from 27 to 30 December. According to tennis365, the news had been announced a little earlier on the same platform by the Saudi official Turki Al-Sheikh.

The Italian has not played a single match since his win over Alexander Zverev in the Wimbledon final on 12 July. On 6 October, he had announced the end of his season to treat an inflamed iliotibial band in the right knee, forfeiting an exhibition then scheduled from 21 to 24 October. Learner Tien, 20, was named as his replacement on the same day.

A week later, on 13 October, Riyadh Season moved the third edition to late December. Officially, the postponement comes down to organisational and logistical challenges; Tennis Majors understands a link with the international situation, a link The National ties to Houthi attacks on Riyadh airport.

An unchanged field, one seat handed back

The field itself has not changed: Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, Zverev, Taylor Fritz and Alex De Minaur. Alcaraz and Djokovic skip the quarter-finals, Sinner would open against De Minaur according to the Italian press, and a Sinner-Alcaraz rematch of the last two finals could only come in the final. For Tien, the door closes: the seat lent to him in October goes back to the two-time defending champion.

The cheque is worth a look: $1.5 million in appearance money per player and $4.5 million for the winner, according to Eurosport. The first two editions offered $6 million to the winner, more than any Grand Slam singles prize according to Tennis Majors, and Sinner has pocketed it twice.

On the knee, the Italian media describe on-court tests as early as next week in Monte-Carlo, where Darren Cahill has joined him; tennis365 sees a boost there after decisive talks with his coach. The schedule tightens: the Australian Open begins on 17 January, eighteen days after the final in Riyadh, and the 2027 season opens on 1 January with the United Cup.

Riyadh Season still has to publish a revised draw and schedule: the tournament page, updated on 16 October, still lists Tien against De Minaur in the quarter-finals. The rankings, meanwhile, keep turning without Sinner: according to tennis365, he will have handed the world number one spot to Zverev by the time he returns.

Four and a half months without a match: the first serve Sinner hits in Riyadh will say more about his knee than any Instagram story.