The Six Kings Slam: A Clash of Money, Human Rights, and Sports Hypocrisy

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Six Kings Slam: A Controversial Exhibition

Forgive me for not joining the many who watched the Six Kings Slam final last night, but there are issues that should not even be contemplated in a civil society.

For those unaware, the Six Kings Slam is an exhibition tournament, meaning it does not earn ATP ranking points.
However, players have accepted to participate mainly due to the exorbitant prize money.
Each participant receives approximately €1.4 million just for showing up, while the winner takes home €5.5 million, the highest payout ever in tennis, surpassing even that of the Grand Slam tournaments.
In comparison, Jannik Sinner earned about €2 million when he won the Australian Open and around €3.5 million for his triumph at the US Open.

The Discrepancy in Wealth

You might ask, “What’s the harm in that?” The truth is, there are multiple harms.
Firstly, nearly 700 million people live on less than $2.50 a day, with 44% of the global population surviving on under $6.85—an amount deemed the poverty line in developing nations.
The World Bank hopes to reduce this percentage to 7.3% by 2030.

You may argue, “What does this have to do with tennis?” Well, it relates to football, Formula 1, Moto GP, and all professions that generate no real societal value but merely perpetuate a skewed system of wealth where everyone seems corruptible.

Sport in a Flawed System

This reality should outrage entrepreneurs, professionals, and workers who, despite their efforts, earn far less than these privileged athletes, who make about $20,000 a minute for hitting a ball over a net.

If anyone can rationally justify this imbalance—morally or otherwise—I invite you to step forward.
Avoid mentioning sponsorships, as they only trap individuals in a hamster wheel, entertaining modern arenas that thankfully not everyone is foolish enough to patronize.

Choosing to play tennis in a country that disregards human rights, especially women’s rights, such as Saudi Arabia, reveals how even the most principled players, like Novak Djokovic, can appear as mere circus monkeys, performing for peanuts.

The Call for Integrity

Andy Murray is one of the few to openly declare he will never play in Saudi Arabia, earning my respect.
“Oh come on, we’re just watching tennis!” No, you’re complicit in a system that allows wealth to dictate morality, and that includes you.

This brings to mind human rights and sports washing—using sports to improve an organization’s or state’s image—especially regarding the Public Investment Fund (PIF) of Saudi Arabia.
They’re investing colossal sums in sports to divert attention from their appalling human rights violations.

Perhaps it would be easier for those in my profession to applaud such events rather than criticize them—who knows what investments might arise? But some of us will not be sold.

Human Rights in Sport

The Olympic Charter states, “The practice of sport is a human right.
Every individual should have the opportunity to practice sports without discrimination.” Even the Convention on the Rights of the Child, signed by Saudi Arabia, recognizes children’s rights to engage in physical education and sports.
However, Saudi policies regarding women’s sports reflect a broader oppressive view of female rights, where allowing women to participate in any sport is seen as compromising their morality.

Poverty will continue to escalate globally until there is an established global peace, economic democracy, and a unified human society—none of which will be found in Saudi Arabia.

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