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“Jannik Sinner’s witchcraft”; “Going a bit far” – Fans react as Six Kings Slam announces postponement amid rising tensions in Saudi Arabia

Although Jannik Sinner has ended his 2026 season early, he became the center of discussion when the Six Kings Slam announced the decision to postpone the star-studded exhibition event.

By Urvi Mehra · Sportskeeda

Published: Thursday, 15 October 2026 at 3:09 PM

Key Things to Know

Fans reacted online after the Six Kings Slam was postponed from October to late December amid unrest in Saudi Arabia.
Jannik Sinner, a two-time champion of the event, was originally replaced in the lineup by Learner Tien due to injury.
Social media users joked that the postponement was orchestrated by Sinner to keep his hopes of a third title alive.

The Story in 60 Seconds

The Six Kings Slam exhibition in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, has been postponed from October 21 to December 27-30 due to regional unrest following an airport attack. Jannik Sinner was originally replaced in the field by Learner Tien because of an ongoing knee injury, prompting tennis fans on social media to joke that the delay was "witchcraft" to preserve Sinner's title defense.

Fans also speculated that the lucrative $6 million winner's payout might entice Sinner to return for the rescheduled event. Meanwhile, Carlos Alcaraz addressed Sinner's injury hiatus ahead of the Shanghai Masters, criticizing the demanding ATP calendar for increasing player injuries.

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