Carlos Alcaraz, world number two in tennis, openly acknowledged that record prize money was a key motivator for his recent participation in the Six Kings Slam in Saudi Arabia. Over the course of the exhibition event in Riyadh, Alcaraz earned $1.5 million, adding that the allure of “the most highest prize money ever in the history” helped fuel his decision to compete.
“I love playing tennis…most of the time I don’t think about the money. But you have to be realistic. You have to think that you want to earn money, you know, and that’s it,” Alcaraz told reporters.
While Alcaraz’s Italian rival Jannik Sinner insisted his attendance was driven by the sporting challenge rather than financial gain, Alcaraz’s candor highlighted the role of lucrative incentives in the sport’s growing global appeal.
Alcaraz’s Challenge at the Paris Masters
Preparing for the Paris Masters, Alcaraz shared his struggles with fatigue toward the end of the competitive season. Despite his impressive year, winning both the French Open and Wimbledon, Alcaraz noted that he hasn’t found significant success at the Paris Masters, with a quarter-final being his best finish.
“Probably at the end of the year, I have been tired…I think I’m feeling different this year,” he said, hopeful for an improved performance as he readies to face Chile’s Nicolas Jarry in the tournament’s round of 32.
Tournament Highlights
Other early matches in Paris saw Greek 10th seed Stefanos Tsitsipas come from behind to defeat Spain’s Roberto Carballes Baena and France’s Adrian Mannarino upset American 11th seed Tommy Paul.
