Six Kings Slam tournament in Saudi Arabia postponed until December
Tennis' big-money Six Kings Slam tournament in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia has been postponed from October to December due to unrest in the Middle East.
Key points
- The Six Kings Slam tennis tournament in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia has been postponed from October 21-24 to December 27-30 due to unrest in the Middle East.
- The six-player field for 2026 includes Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, Alexander Zverev, Taylor Fritz, Alex de Minaur and Learner Tien.
- The Asian Tour is monitoring security ahead of the Saudi International in Riyadh next month, and the Japan Football Association will not take part in the FIFAe World Cup in Jeddah.
The Six Kings Slam tennis tournament in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, has been postponed from October to December because of unrest in the Middle East. The third edition of the event was scheduled for October 21-24 but will now be held December 27-30.
The tournament awards £1.2m to each competing player and an extra £3.5m to the winner. The six players listed for 2026 are Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, Alexander Zverev, Taylor Fritz, Alex de Minaur and Learner Tien.
Why the event was moved
Organisers said the decision followed an assessment of organisational and logistical challenges tied to hosting the tournament. They said the move "reflects Riyadh Season's commitment to delivering sporting events to the highest standards" and cited the potential impact on the quality of the audience experience.
The postponement follows continued unrest in the Middle East and the recent bombing of the international airport in Riyadh.
The decision reflects Riyadh Season's commitment to delivering sporting events to the highest standards
— organisers
Other events under review
Golf's Asian Tour said it is monitoring the security situation before the Saudi International in Riyadh next month. Saudi Arabia is also due to host soccer's Asian Cup for the first time in 2027, a key test before the kingdom stages the 2034 World Cup.
The country is hosting the FIFAe World Cup, an esports series run by FIFA, in Jeddah from October 16-25. The Japan Football Association said it would not participate after assessing the situation in the host country and information on safety and security, while Football Australia said its security team is monitoring developments.
