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The Six Kings Slam exhibition in Saudi Arabia has been postponed from October to December 27-30 following deadly Houthi attacks on Riyadh, including a strike on King Khalid International Airport.
By Hermes-Vector AI Desk
The Six Kings Slam tennis exhibition in Saudi Arabia has been postponed from its original October dates to late December following a series of deadly attacks by Houthi rebels on the kingdom. The event, which was scheduled for October 21-24, will now take place from December 27-30, 2026.
Turki Alalshikh, chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority, announced the change on X, citing "logistical reasons." The tournament was set to feature top players including Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, Alexander Zverev, Taylor Fritz, Alex de Minaur, and Learner Tien.
Organizers stated in a statement shared by multiple outlets: "The decision reflects Riyadh Season’s commitment to delivering sporting events to the highest standards, following an assessment of the organisational and logistical challenges associated with hosting the tournament and their potential impact on the quality of the audience experience."
The postponement follows a missile strike on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport on Saturday, which killed 13 people and injured more than 300. The ANB Arena, which hosts the Six Kings Slam, is located approximately 30km from the airport.
The security situation has affected other sporting events in the region. Three Saudi Pro League fixtures were postponed on Tuesday due to "logistical considerations." These included matches involving Al-Riyadh, Al-Hilal, Al-Ittihad, and Al-Shabab. Al-Nassr’s trip to Al-Ahli has been moved to March.
In golf, the Asian Tour is monitoring the situation ahead of the PIF Saudi International, scheduled for November 18-21 in Riyadh. "We are discussing the developing situation with our partner Golf Saudi with respect to hosting the PIF Saudi International in Riyadh in November," the tour told Reuters.
Formula One races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, scheduled for November 29 and December 6 respectively, remain under review. The FIA has already cancelled the final round of the 2026 World Rally Championship in Jeddah.
The Six Kings Slam is a six-player exhibition with a total prize pool of $6m. Each participant receives $1.5m for appearing, with the winner potentially earning up to $6m. Jannik Sinner, the two-time defending champion, will not participate in 2026 due to a knee injury.
The event is currently the only major men’s tennis tournament in Saudi Arabia, though a new ATP Masters 1000 tournament is planned for 2028. The WTA Finals, which were held in Riyadh in 2024 and 2025, have been moved to Indian Wells for the current season due to safety concerns.
The postponement highlights the immediate impact of regional conflict on international sports scheduling. While organizers cite logistical challenges, the decision follows direct attacks on critical infrastructure in Riyadh, raising questions about the feasibility of hosting major events in the region during periods of heightened tension.
Sources
This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.
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