Reigning Champion Sinner and Alcaraz Lead Six Kings Slam Set for October

By Richard Pagliaro | Wednesday, August 6, 2025
Photo credit: Six Kings Slam

Tennis’ major kings return to Riyadh to chase a lucrative crown in October.

Reigning champion and world No. 1 Jannik Sinner, Roland Garros champion Carlos Alcaraz and Grand Slam king Novak Djokovic lead the list of competitors for the 2025 Six Kings Slam.

The exhibition event, set for October 15-18th at the ABN Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, officially announced the six-player lineup today.

Sinner, who beat Alcaraz to collect a tennis-record $6 million champion’s check in Riyadh last fall, headlines the field that also includes American Taylor Fritz, Briton Jack Draper and Germany’s Alexander Zverev.

A year ago, Alcaraz defeated his tennis hero, Rafael Nadal, 6-3, 6-3 in one semifinal and Sinner stopped Djokovic 6-2, 6-7(0), 6-4 in the top-half semifinal.

In the exhibition event’s final, Sinner beat Alcaraz 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-3 to capture the most lucrative payday in tennis history.

Tennis Channel and ITF Extend Media Rights Agreement

By Richard Pagliaro | Monday, August 4, 2025
Photo credit: Matt McNulty/Getty for ITF

Tennis Channel will remain your television ticket to Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup competition.

Under the new multi-year agreement, Tennis Channel will remain the exclusive U.S. home for both tournaments continuing a relationship that began in 2009, TC and the ITF said in a joint announcement issued today.

Austria

The extension runs through 2027 for the Billie Jean King Cup and 2028 for the Davis Cup.

“The extension also marks a significant expansion of Tennis Channel’s international reach, with rights to broadcast in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and the United Kingdom,” TC announced.  “Additionally, rights for the Billie Jean King Cup have been secured in Spain – a new and important market where interest in women’s tennis continues to see strong growth.”

The Billie Jean King Cup Finals will be contested in Shenzhen, China, September 16-21st. The Davis Cup Final 8 is set for Bologna, Italy, November 18-23rd.

“For many years Tennis Channel has helped bring the World Cup of Tennis to millions of people around the world and this extension is great news for both Billie Jean King Cup and Davis Cup,” ITF President David Haggerty said. “We look forward to continuing to work alongside Tennis Channel to continue this growth for years to come.”

Swiatek Powers Past Lys in Montreal, Setting Round of 16 Clash with Tauson

Wimbledon champion Iga Swiatek continues to ride the hot hand on the North American hard courts. The six-time major champion hammered past Eva Lys of Germany on Friday night in Montreal, 6-2, 6-2 to reach the round of 16.

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Tennis Express player gear

The 24-year-old Pole has dropped just eight games through two rounds at the Omnium Banque Nationale, and will face 16th-seeded Clara Tauson next.

Tauson took out Yuliia Starodubtseva, 6-3 6-0.

Swiatek has now won nine matches on the trot, dating back to the start of her Wimbledon title run. She is bidding for her 13th career hard court title this week in Montreal, and her first since Indian Wells in 2024.

Swiatek improves to 43-12 on the season with her win.

More to follow…

European Young Masters, Germany triumphs

advisor , and captain

Italy (Matteo Manini, Anita Marrone, Alice Alexandra Negroni, Leonardo Zanardi) finished 14th with a score of 663 (220, 220, 223, +15) in the European Young Masters, which concluded on the par-72 Golf du Racing Club de France – La Boulie course in Versailles, France. Germany won with a score of 635 (214, 210, 211, -13), ahead of defending title holders France, who finished second with a score of 640 (-8), and the Czech Republic, third with a score of 642 (-6). Spain and England finished fourth with a score of 643 (-5).

European Young Masters, results

In the men's individual rankings, Czech Stepan Plasek (204 – 67 68 69, -12) took the win, leading the race, leaving Germany's Colin Barmann and Bjarne Murr and Switzerland's Kai Notteboom (208, -8) four strokes behind. In fifth place was Spain's Samuel Love Li with a score of 209 (-7), Zanardi (Croara) in 31st with a score of 224 (72 71 81, +8), and Manini (Le Fonti) in 41st with a score of 228 (75 79 74, +12).

In the women's race, England's Ellie Lichtenhein prevailed with a score of 213 (70 70 73, -3), ahead of compatriot Annabel Peaford and France's Axelle Guillemard and Salomè Lumbaca (215, -1). Spain's Adriana Garcia Terol and Denmark's Jessica Dyreskov finished fifth with a score of 217 (+1), while Negroni (Villa Condulmer) finished 12th with a score of 222 (73, 74, 75, +6), and Marrone (Turin) finished 22nd with a score of 228 (79, 75, 74, +12). Coach Alessandro Bandini, an advisor, and captain Giovanni Bartoli, accompanied the Italians.

The last Italian victory in the event, now in its 30th edition, was achieved by Natalia Aparicio in 2023 (with Italy finishing second in the team event) in the women's individual event, twenty-five years after Diana Luna, who won the title in 1998, preceded by Barbara Paruscio, in the inaugural tournament in 1995, and Giulia Sergas (1997).

Italy has also won the Nations Cup four times (1997, 1998, 2007, 2012) and three men's individual titles with Roberto Paolillo (1997), Matteo Manassero (2007), and Renato Paratore (2012).

Italy ranks fourth in national team victories with four, preceded by Spain and Germany with eight, and France with five. The Czech Republic follows with three, Finland, and Sweden with one.