Jannik Sinner received an extraordinary amount for winning the Six Kings Slam exhibition in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, but the world No. 1 says that money is not very important to him.
The Six Kings Slam featured Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Daniil Medvedev, and Holger Rune, making it one of the most high-profile exhibitions in the sport's history.
Djokovic and Nadal played the final match of their legendary rivalry at the Six Kings Slam before the Spaniard retires at the Davis Cup Finals next month. Afterward, Djokovic paid an emotional tribute to his old rival, calling him an incredible person.
Sinner played Alcaraz in the final of the event. The 21-year-old had beaten the Italian in their previous three matches, including outlasting him in an epic China Open final earlier this month.
However, that was not the only importance attached to the match. Both men knew that a scarcely believable $6 million would be given to whichever man triumphed to secure the Six Kings Slam title.
Sinner lost the opening set on a tiebreak, but the US Open champion stormed back impressively to defeat Alcaraz 6-7, 6-3, 6-3, and receive the most significant prize money in tennis history for winning three matches in Saudi Arabia.
All the players were also guaranteed $1.5 million just for participating in the exhibition. Medvedev and Rune only played one match in Saudi Arabia but still collected that lucrative sum afterward.
Although it seems obvious that the lucrative prize money on offer influences players' decisions to attend non-ranking point exhibitions during the season, Sinner insisted the financial rewards were not why he went to Saudi Arabia.
During an interview with Eurosport, the world No. 1 stated the Six Kings Slam was an excellent opportunity to play against some of the best players in the world, which was more important to him than the money.
"I don't play for money. It's very simple. Of course it's a nice prize and everything. But for me, I went there because there were possibly the six best players in the world and then you can measure yourself with them."
Sinner also said going to Riyadh for the first time was an attraction and that he lives a good life regardless of the money given at such exhibitions, meaning it does not hold much importance to him.
"It was also a nice event for me. It was the first time that I went to Riyadh. It was for something very nice. Of course, when you come back as a winner, it was more for me that I played the matches in the right way and this can hopefully improve me as a player for the future."
"The money is important, but not that much. I live a good life also without this money, so I think it's much more important the health I have and surrounding myself with great people and the family I have than the money, it's just an extra."
While it is somewhat hard to believe Sinner was not happier than he describes about winning $6 million, he has proven his superb mentality and dedication on several occasions this year, and that was on show again during the Six Kings Slam.