Andy Roddick believes many people misinterpreted Jannik Sinner's statement that he does not play for money after he received the largest paycheck in tennis history at the Six Kings Slam.
Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Daniil Medvedev, and Holger Rune played at the financially lucrative Six Kings Slam exhibition in Saudi Arabia last month, showing how the country's influence in the sport is growing.
Saudi Arabia also hosted the WTA Finals. Coco Gauff, who admitted she had some reservations about playing there because of the country's record on women's and LGBTQ rights, won her maiden WTA Finals title.
Gauff also received the largest paycheck in women's tennis history for her efforts. The Saudi government's willingness to offer substantial financial rewards makes it hard for the ATP and WTA to reject its investment.
Sinner won the Six Kings Slam after victories against Medvedev, Djokovic, and Alcaraz. His win against Alcaraz stopped a run of three consecutive losses to the Spaniard, but the result did not count in their official head-to-head because it was an exhibition.
The Italian was awarded an extraordinary $6 million for that achievement, the largest paycheck ever given to an ATP player. Despite only needing to win three matches to win the Six Kings Slam, the Italian was given an extraordinary $6 million.
When asked about it afterward, Sinner insisted he does not play for money, and he decided to play at the event because it was a great opportunity to test himself against some of the best players in the world.
By contrast, Alcaraz admitted that competing for the most significant prize money in men's tennis played a pivotal role in his decision to play at the Six Kings Slam. Many fans appreciated his honesty.
Speaking on an episode of his podcast Served with Andy Roddick, the American defended Sinner from criticism and said two things can be true at the same time: going somewhere for a payday but also prioritizing his schedule and training.
"He said something like, 'Tennis for me isn't about the money.' But obviously, Saudi was about [the money]... there was a collective eye-roll about it, but I think his point was obviously if you go to Saudi, you're going for work reasons, right? Quickest payday he'll ever have"
"Three days, six million, bingo-bango. I don't think five days of action supplants him not thinking about money one time during the US Open semifinals. I honestly find it hard to believe if he knew how much he would win for a semifinal or like a Masters 1000."
"I don't really think he knows that. He doesn't act like someone who goes about it for money. And for four days, massive cash grab, and I do think a lot of people got that backwards. Two things can be true. You go somewhere for five days for a cash grab, but his [priorities] are his scheduling, when he's training, when he's doing all those things."
Sinner also secured the largest paycheck in the history of any ATP event after winning the ATP Finals on home soil in Turin last week.