Andy Murray has slammed Saudi Arabia's upcoming Six Kings Slam by insisting 'nobody cares' about it.
The Middle Eastern metropolis is prepping to host the richest tennis showing of 2024 this October, with a lineup of tennis A-listers poised to hit the courts. The fresh contender in the tennis world has been dubbed as an exhibition match, so players won't bank any ATP points despite duking it out on the court.
However, it's the eye-watering amount of prize money that's persuaded top-talent racket-swingers to join the fray from October 16-19. Set to swing into action at The Venue in Riyadh are Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Daniil Medvedev, and Holger Rune.
They're all bagging at least £1.12million just for showing up - a sum that overshadows what the Wimbledon losing semi-finalists scored this past summer, reports the Express. Meanwhile, the player crowned king of the tournament will net a whopping £4.5m, which is nearly double what Sinner pocketed for his US Open victory earlier this month.
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However, Murray is less than impressed by the showing - taking to social media to make his stance clear. Taking to X, tennis ace Liam Broady shared a promotional trailer for the clip, writing: "Speechless as to how damn cool this promo is. Probably best I’ve ever seen in tennis.
"Would watch this movie. 10/10." Not phased by the clip, Murray clapped back: "Except it’s not a movie and you won’t watch it because it’s an exhibition tennis event that nobody cares about," with a sarcastic thumbs up for good measure. The Six Kings Slam unveiled a lavish five-minute film last Friday, starring the six athletes set to strut their stuff in Saudi Arabia.
The clip, crafted by Los Perez, has scooped tons of praise and cranked up the buzz for the luxe tourney now merely weeks away. It showcases each star in epic historical settings flavoured with a dash of their heritage and unique play style. Alcaraz takes on an android in a court hovering over a vast desert, Sinner embodies a Renaissance genius sculpting magic with his racquet, and Rune is seen commanding a Viking ship cleaving through the sea with a mighty backhand.
Medvedev charges into the spotlight astride a bear, with Nadal transforming into a clay behemoth - a clear tribute to his reign over the red dirt. Djokovic then dominates the scene, entrenched in a frozen wilderness, howling defiance at wolves before igniting the court with a blazing rally. The tournament gets underway in Riyadh on October 16.
