Six Kings Slam or Six Kings SHAM? | Why Tennis Exhibitions Miss the Mark | Ep. 72
Alvin and Patrick dive into the “Six Kings Slam” — the Netflix-streamed exhibition in Saudi Arabia that paid six of the world’s best players $1.5 million each to show up. They debate whether events like this help or hurt the sport, what makes exhibitions feel hollow, and why true stakes are the lifeblood of tennis.
Later, they hit on how exhibitions could actually work, the future of Laver Cup vs. Davis Cup, and finish with early thoughts on the ATP and WTA year-end finals.
00:00 - Introduction to the Six Kings Slam
03:00 - Netflix Money & Player Incentives
05:30 - The Nature of Exhibition Matches
08:20 - The Impact on Player Rivalries
11:00 - Monetary Incentives and Player Motivation
13:30 - Proposals for Improvement
16:30 - The Role of Lower-Ranked Players
19:15 - Conclusion and Future Considerations
25:00 - The Momentum of Team Tennis
27:20 - Comparing Laver Cup and Davis Cup
33:15 - Anticipating the End of the Tennis Season
36:00 - The Rise of Women's Tennis
38:30 - Iga Swiatek: The Future of Women's Tennis
41:20 - Djokovic's Last Stand at the Australian Open
