Incognito
Legend
This is not an exhibition for charity. The prize money is more than twice what Wimbledon gives its winner.
“6 Kings Slam” in Saudi Arabia in October
- Thread starter Marius_Hancu
- Start date
Yeah no I don't mind. That was a semi-joke of sorts. People play some exhibitions seriously (nolecaraz last year) at times and this weird exhibition is taken seriously too for some reason. Nice fast courts though.
RSJfan
Legend
$6 million to the winner. Carrot isn’t playing around. If you want a purely sham Exo try 2025 Vamosaraz.
It’s a real world demonstration that throwing around a pile of money doesn’t make an event exciting.
nolefam_2024
Bionic Poster
People should boycott the event for the camera angle. Yikes.$6 million to the winner. Carrot isn’t playing around. If you want a purely sham Exo try 2025 Vamosaraz.
It’s a real world demonstration that throwing around a pile of money doesn’t make an event exciting.
"Exhibition" is a bad description of this event. I would call it an unsanctioned mini-tournament. It's a modern version of the old Pepsi Grand Slam four-man event (which eventually did receive ATP recognition).
RS
Bionic Poster
Maywather's whole career purse.
Krish872007
Talk Tennis Guru
Camera is too close in. If they zoomed out a bit more, we could get a view of the parking lot as well.
RS
Bionic Poster
Yep
junior74
Bionic Poster
This is the Saudis buying a piece of the tennis cake. Many players won't even set foot there.
$1.6 million for losing and go home again.
This is about the complete opposite of the Laver Cup, and I hate it. The Laver Cup is all about camaraderie, prize money is unimportant, there are good vibes all around. The audience enjoy and are happy. This so-called slam has a huge prize money, no camaraderie, the stands are dark (and when the camera catches a glimpse of the audience you see people all dressed in white and black, women with their faces covered, etc). Ball kids wearing jeans. Sometimes the camera shows a guy with a turban and a beard which I assume is an important person in Saudi Arabia (the king?).
nolefam_2024
Bionic Poster
Why?
nolefam_2024
Bionic Poster
Because it's made by Federer and I don't like populism.
Yes, that sounds very logical. Anything that Djokovic does, including that tournament in the height of COVID where people were going around without masks and some people got infected was good, but the Laver Cup is bad. Got it.
But what do they get out of it?
nolefam_2024
Bionic Poster
No , Djokovic should not have held the tournament during covid. That's wrong.Yes, that sounds very logical. Anything that Djokovic does, including that tournament in the height of COVID where people were going around without masks and some people got infected was good, but the Laver Cup is bad. Got it.
But no laver cup as well.
No Laver Cup because it is a creation of Federer, or for some other reason?
nolefam_2024
Bionic Poster
Federer
At least he’s being honest
Exactly.
Pmasterfunk
Hall of Fame
It buys them influence and legitimacy
How does it buy them influence? Do you mean influence within their own country? As for legitimacy, I don't see that either. Are they trying to project an outward image as a tolerant and dynamic society who likes tennis, is that your point?
JJGUY
Hall of Fame
The talking points are mostly just holier-than-thou, middle East has been a major stop for sports events like F1 for decades, and you still hear people talking about the legitimacy, it's just so laughable now, those countries are never going to change for you, regardless of whether they host F1, golf or tennis. What they got are the facility, the sports series, the interests for the sports and the boost for the economy. Look at China Open in Beijing, its ticket sales alone topped 80 million (or $11 million), Indian Wells could have earned more (?), but for any other stops like Madrid, Cincy, Toronto, Paris... and even Miami, there is just no match to them, it's how huge it has become now after decade of investment.
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Tallawah Tennis
Hall of Fame
Man, your take is odd. LC is a team event, so different context. This event is in SA so bound to have people dressed in their local attire - why is that an issue? Should events only take place in countries that dress in western attire?
This is an exhibition event, not a slam. Is there LC like camaraderie in the actual GS's? In any other ATP event? I have watched all of the matches at this event live - the crowd seem to be enjoying themselves and the atmosphere when Novak, but particularly Rafa played was great, with the 2 great players being cheered.
As for the political points made in this thread, get real will you? Substantial Middle Eastern money funds Tennis and other sports events,and has done for years. SA is, apparently, a friend of the USA and Britain, who have armed forces bases in the country. It seems human rights issues, and prattling on about democracy, only applies to those nations that are not 'friends'.
There are ATP events in China - are human rights / democracy not an issue there? Hypocrisy writ large, it seems.
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InsuranceMan
Hall of Fame
Stay bitter lmao
Yes, sorry about that, I think the post came out wrong. I wasn't making a political comment, it was more about the aesthetics of it (very dark stands, and people dressed in uniform colors). It is very strange, but I should be more understanding of Saudi Arabia's local customs. I had no idea that people dressed with the same colors (white or black).
And yes, the crowd do seem to be enjoying themselves too. I should be more careful when I write posts that can offend other people, it didn't cross my mind that many people read these forums.
Pmasterfunk
Hall of Fame
Influence on the international stage. Your last sentence is right on the money I think, and I wouldn’t be surprised if the tournament keeps going for a few more years A-list celebrities are going to start showing up.
Look, it’s Tom Cruise! Who doesn’t like that guy, and he’s chatting with Fed! What a wonderful and humane place. Khashoggi who? Doesn’t ring a bell… look, free drinks! Isn’t this place wonderful.
Tennfan123
Legend
Sometimes I think the exho events are more liked by fans on here than regular tour stuff.
Tallawah Tennis
Hall of Fame
Man, we each have our own take, and if it offends, so be it. Hence sharing my take. The filming of the event leaves a lot to be desired, and it does look strange - the while attire shows up and the black doesn't. Looks like large gaps.
What interests me is how, prima facie, it all seems most effusive. What lies beyond, where human rights issues are concerned? Where does one draw the line of hypocrisy? I ask myself this question - having watched and enjoyed the matches.
Yah man. It's what colours the world, top down. Within nations, where propaganda and insidious norms are propagated, then on the greater stage. Influence / social control is rife. Anyone for tennis?
roysid
Legend
They will also have WTA finals there. Women wearing short skirts playing in Saudi. That would be fun
Winner Sinner
Hall of Fame
octobrina10
Bionic Poster
octobrina10
Bionic Poster
You are wrong about Laver Cup. The prize money is the most important thing in Laver Cup, nobody would play in it without getting money.
As for the 6 Kings Slam audience, the crowd watching the match between Rafa & Alcaraz was fantastic. The spectators enjoyed themselves and were chanting after the match: “Rafa, rafa, rafa, rafa … “
The tweet below roughly translates to: “Fans in Riyadh love Rafa” (Translated from Arabic via Google.):
As for the clothing rules in Saudi Arabia, Rafa's wife was wearing a pink dress when watching his match, without any issues:
Tallawah Tennis
Hall of Fame
Man, why would it be fun? Is it the hallmark of a civilised world for women to wear short skirts / dresses or to be skimpily clad? Is it a great leap into a fair and just society to allow it? Is it the epitome of emancipation for women to wear such attire? From my perspective - no. It isn't.
That said, what is positive is that the WTA have been given an opportunity to play too.
octobrina10
Bionic Poster
Rafa received the best prize at the event - a golden racquet:
The source:
The source:
Airspun
Hall of Fame
I think most players would play in the Laver cup for Free TBH, to be there to represent the Rocket and Fed's dream.You are wrong about Laver Cup. The prize money is the most important thing in Laver Cup, nobody would play in it without getting money.
As for the 6 Kings Slam audience, the crowd watching the match between Rafa & Alcaraz was fantastic. The spectators enjoyed themselves and were chanting after the match: “Rafa, rafa, rafa, rafa … “
The tweet below roughly translates to: “Fans in Riyadh love Rafa” (Translated from Arabic via Google.):
As for the clothing rules in Saudi Arabia, Rafa's wife was wearing a pink dress when watching his match, without any issues:
octobrina10
Bionic Poster
This is wishful thinking.
This didn't age well$6 million to the winner. Carrot isn’t playing around. If you want a purely sham Exo try 2025 Vamosaraz.
It’s a real world demonstration that throwing around a pile of money doesn’t make an event exciting.
I didn't know about Khashoggi, thank you for pointing it out. So this is mainly a whitewashing operation to improve the Saudi government image.
I don't think the prize money in the Laver Cup is the most important. I really enjoy Laver Cup, and if you have had a chance to watch Laver Cup you would realize players enjoy playing in Laver Cup too. It is not exactly an exhibition, but I would describe it as a celebration. Just because Fed is behind Laver Cup it doesn't make Laver Cup wrong. Rafa had a great time at the Laver Cup himself.You are wrong about Laver Cup. The prize money is the most important thing in Laver Cup, nobody would play in it without getting money.
As for the 6 Kings Slam audience, the crowd watching the match between Rafa & Alcaraz was fantastic. The spectators enjoyed themselves and were chanting after the match: “Rafa, rafa, rafa, rafa … “
The tweet below roughly translates to: “Fans in Riyadh love Rafa” (Translated from Arabic via Google.):
As for the clothing rules in Saudi Arabia, Rafa's wife was wearing a pink dress when watching his match, without any issues:
Pmasterfunk
Hall of Fame
I mean, it is, but the scope of this specific tournament is minuscule. There are the WTA tour finals, the Next Gen Finals, the LIV tour, some soccer stuff, they'll host the Asian Games, and they're trying very hard to get a joint Masters 1000 in the future. And that's just the stuff I know about.
Yep as a Novak fan was very disappointed he took part and i agree with Chris and Martina on this. The Saudi regime are trying to effectively buy people's silence over their appalling human rights issues and once again they are succeeding.
The USA/UK and other Western nations should hang their heads in shame because we all know they keep quiet and tolerate this because of Saudi Arabia's great wealth. Let's be honest if this was another much poorer Arab state the USA/UK would be all over it like a rash threatening sanctions and calling their behaviour disgraceful.
Sadly money talks as they say.
The USA/UK and other Western nations should hang their heads in shame because we all know they keep quiet and tolerate this because of Saudi Arabia's great wealth. Let's be honest if this was another much poorer Arab state the USA/UK would be all over it like a rash threatening sanctions and calling their behaviour disgraceful.
Sadly money talks as they say.
octobrina10
Bionic Poster
Navratilova is a hypocrite. The USA started to legalize homosexuality in1962, but it was illegal in most states in 1975. when she moved to the USA.
Prior to the 2003 Supreme Court ruling, same-sex sexual activity was illegal in fourteen states. The criminalization of homosexuality in the USA didn’t prevent her from moving and living there.
I hate politics. Let's be clear: Most, or all, Western countries have a checkered past in regards to human rights and upholding the sacredness of human life. So criticizing other countries seems in a way an exercise in hypocrisy. At the same time, there are things which are difficult to ignore. Image is everything these days, it seems.
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