The high-profile Six Kings Slam tennis exhibition scheduled to take place in Saudi Arabia has been postponed in the wake of a series of deadly attacks in Riyadh. Organisers of the lucrative three-day tournament announced the delay following security concerns sparked by recent regional violence.
The tournament, which was set to begin on October 21, features several of the sport's biggest names, including Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz, and Alexander Zverev. Other top players originally slated to compete in the Saudi capital included Alex de Minaur, Taylor Fritz, and Learner Tien.
According to tournament officials, the postponement was decided after evaluating organizational and logistical difficulties stemming from the weekend security incidents. Organizers noted that the situation impacted their ability to maintain the intended standard and quality of the spectator experience.
The security situation escalated significantly over the weekend when missile strikes targeted Riyadh, including the city's international airport, resulting in multiple casualties. Energy infrastructure across the kingdom was also targeted in the attacks attributed to Yemen's Houthi movement.
The unrest has caused widespread disruption across Saudi sports schedules beyond tennis. Domestic soccer authorities postponed multiple Saudi Pro League matches, including fixtures involving prominent clubs and star players like Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Asian Tour stated it is closely observing developments ahead of its upcoming season-closing golf tournament in Riyadh, which is scheduled for mid-November. Meanwhile, Formula 1 officials are reportedly monitoring the regional security environment regarding upcoming Grands Prix in nearby Qatar and Abu Dhabi.
The third iteration of the Six Kings Slam has now been rescheduled to take place from December 27 to December 30. The event offers substantial prize money, with previous winners taking home multi-million-dollar payouts in the high-stakes exhibition circuit.
Reporting based on coverage first published by BBC Sport. Read the original report at BBC Sport.
