“Could’ve just called Ben Shelton” – Fans in disbelief as Learner Tien replaces Jannik Sinner at Six Kings Slam

Learner Tien has been named as the replacement for Jannik Sinner at the upcoming Six Kings Slam exhibition event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Sinner withdrew from the tournament after announcing the early end of his 2026 season due to an ongoing knee injury, prompting disbelief from some fans who suggested American Ben Shelton should have been selected instead.

Sinner, who won the first two editions of the Six Kings Slam by defeating Carlos Alcaraz, has not competed since successfully defending his Wimbledon title. Due to his extended absence and missing tournaments like the US Open, Sinner is expected to surrender the World No. 1 ranking to Alexander Zverev by the end of the year.