Defending champion Jannik Sinner has to play a quarter-final match at the Six Kings Slam, which will be played against Stefanos Tsitsipas on Wednesday. Alexander Zverev and Taylor Fritz are also heading to court.
Alexander Zverev vs. Taylor Fritz
There are no easy draws in an event with six players in the top 24 of the rankings, but this is an especially bad one for Zverev. The 28-year-old German has lost no fewer than six matches in a row against Fritz, whom he will meet again on Wednesday in the quarterfinals of the Six Kings Slam in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Fritz’s current head-to-head hot streak started at Wimbledon in 2024 and continued most recently with a 6-3, 7-6(4) win at the Laver Cup. The 27-year-old American won nine of their fourteen meetings in total.
It’s hard to see Zverev suddenly turning things around in Riyadh. Sure, this is an exhibition, but Fritz has generally played well away from the main tour, such as in the Davis Cup, Laver Cup and United Cup. Perhaps no one in the sport plays more than the world number 4. He just loves to play, no matter the setting or situation. And he especially enjoys playing against Zverev, who is 3-5 in his last eight matches dating back to the US Open.
Choice: Fritz in 2
Jannik Sinner vs. Stefanos Tsitsipas
Sinner won the trophy in 2024 and – with a $4.5 million bonus for the champion – he will no doubt be motivated to defend the title. The second-ranked Italian will also be keen to get back on the winning track after withdrawing from the Shanghai Masters during a third-round match against Tallon Greekpoor.
First up for Sinner on Wednesday is a matchup with Tsitsipas, who surprisingly leads the head-to-head series 6-3. However, the 24-year-old has won two of the last three meetings and each of the last two on hard courts (albeit indoors). Tsitsipas hasn’t played well in 2025 and is an abysmal 3-7 in his last ten games, so there’s no reason to anticipate an upset.
Choice: sinner in 2
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