With this victory, Alcaraz will now face his compatriot and tennis legend Rafael Nadal (world No. 153) in the semifinals.
Sinner crushes Medvedev as Alcaraz sets up Nadal semifinal at Six Kings Slam
The highly anticipated tennis showdown is set to add another chapter, as Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz (world No. 2) secured a commanding 6-4, 6-2 win over Denmark’s Holger Rune (world No. 14) on Wednesday in his debut at the Six Kings Slam.
While the tennis world is still coming to terms with the news of Nadal’s impending retirement, the legendary Spaniard—who was given a bye in the first round of the exhibition tournament in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia—will have the opportunity to pass the torch on the court to his successor. Alcaraz, the reigning champion of both Roland Garros and Wimbledon, dominated his match, winning 100% of his first-serve points and wrapping up the victory in just 72 minutes.
A new era begins
This will be the fourth meeting between Alcaraz and his idol Nadal, a player who inspired him to turn professional. The pair have faced off three times previously, with Nadal claiming victories in Madrid 2021 and Indian Wells 2022, while Alcaraz triumphed in Madrid 2022. Now, they are set to meet once again in what promises to be a captivating semifinal duel.
The winner of this highly anticipated all-Spanish encounter will face either Serbia’s Novak Djokovic (world No. 4) or Italy’s Jannik Sinner (world No. 1) in the final. Sinner, who cruised through his quarterfinal match against Russia’s Daniil Medvedev (world No. 5) with a 6-0, 6-3 victory, awaits Djokovic in the semifinals.
Jannik Sinner, the current world No. 1, showcased his dominance in the first quarterfinal of the Six Kings Slam, dismantling Medvedev in just 69 minutes. The Italian delivered a flawless first set, winning 6-0, and though Medvedev tried to fight back in the second set, it was too late. Sinner sealed the second set 6-3, marking his eighth win in 15 encounters against the Russian.
The best
With this victory, Sinner extends his impressive 2024 record, having amassed 65 wins and just six losses, including seven titles this year—two of which were Grand Slams (Australian Open and US Open). Sinner’s recent dominance includes a 10-match winning streak, with his last loss coming against Alcaraz in the final of Beijing.
On the other hand, Medvedev, the world No. 5, has had a challenging season, with no titles in 2024. His best results this year were runner-up finishes at the Australian Open and Indian Wells Masters 1000. Despite his efforts, Medvedev was unable to cope with Sinner’s outstanding form, ending his run in Riyadh without a chance to compete for the final. Now, Sinner will face Djokovic in a battle for a place in the tournament’s final.
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