'I wouldn't go near it' - Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev issued stern warning over Riyadh event
Former US Open champion and popular tennis broadcaster Andy Roddick has issued a stern warning to the likes of Carlos Alcaraz, Alexander Zverev and Novak Djokovic ahead of October’s Six Kings Slam.
The event is scheduled to take place between October 21 and 24 at the Anb Arena in Riyadh; however, a horrific attack on King Khalid International Airport last Saturday threatened proceedings.
The attack led to the deaths of at least 13 people, and a further 300 were injured when militants struck the location; flights were diverted as a result.
Andy Roddick issues clear warning against Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev participation in Six Kings Slam
The competition, at which Jannik Sinner is the reigning two-time champion, is set to commence on Wednesday, October 21, with two quarter-final clashes.
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Alcaraz and Djokovic have received byes into the semi-finals, while Zverev is anticipated to take on Taylor Fritz, then face off against the Spaniard if victorious.
Ahead of their potential participation, 2003 US Open champion Roddick has issued a clear warning to the competitors: Alcaraz, Djokovic, Zverev, Fritz, Learner Tien and Alex de Minaur.
“It sucks that the world is in this position, and that we’re having to deal with the consequences of what’s been happening,” said the American, speaking on his Served podcast. “If I was in this thing, I wouldn’t even go near it.
“With the Fly Dubai situation, the pilot, all of that… we saw what happened to Daniil Medvedev in Dubai this year, where he had to sneak out of the country.”
Roddick was referring to Medvedev, another US Open champion, being stranded in Dubai back in March, amid attacks in the Middle East.
“I know they’re getting a lot of money, [but] I just wouldn’t do it. I’m not sure what the upside is to playing in an exhibition. It’s not a [Grand] Slam,” he continued.
“It’s not this thing that’s going to be life-changing for any of the people involved in it. I absolutely, 1000% would not be going. For an inflated payday? The offset wouldn’t even be close to worth it,” he concluded.
The American’s co-host expressed his sympathy for the Saudi Arabian people, clarifying that they are the victims in this situation, to which Roddick quickly agreed.
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Will the Six Kings Slam go ahead?
The Six Kings Slam is set to be broadcast by Netflix, now in its third iteration after Sinner claimed victory at the first two exhibition ‘Slam’ events.
No official confirmation has been provided that the competition will proceed; however, the absence of confirmation claiming otherwise suggests that the Six Kings Slam will be played.
On Sunday, the 13th victim of the attack passed away, after 12 were initially reported to have died. It was the latest loss of life due to the civil war in Yemen; the conflict is between the country’s government, backed by Saudi Arabia, and the Houthis, backed by Iran.
The 12-year-long war has claimed the lives of hundreds of thousands of victims, and plunged Yemen into one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.
The Houthis have warned airlines and passengers not to use Saudi Arabian airports as they are “potential targets and sites for operations by our forces,” which Roddick’s co-host commented on.
“People are getting killed at the airport that [the Six Kings Slam competitors] are going to be flying into?” he questioned rhetorically, to which Roddick re-affirmed his warning for Alcaraz, Djokovic, Zverev, Fritz, Tien and de Minaur.
Topics: Tennis, Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, Saudi Arabia
Kedar Bayley