Carlos Alcaraz admits prize money was “motivation” to compete in Six Kings Slam

Latest update:October 29, 2024 11:25 IST

Carlos Alcaraz says the financial aspect played a role as he made $1.5 million in four days in mid-October.

Carlos Alcaraz will take part in the Paris Masters tournament. (AP Photo)

Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz said on Monday that the record prize money on offer at the Six Kings Slam in Saudi Arabia earlier this month provided motivation to enter the tournament as the world number two prepares for the Paris Masters.

Italian contender Jannik Sinner denied previous claims that he joined the exhibition event for financial reward, stressing that he traveled to Riyadh for the sporting competition.

However, Alcaraz admitted that the financial aspect played a role: in mid-October, he earned $1.5 million in four days.

“I love playing tennis. You know, most of the time I don’t think about money. I just play for love or for fun. But you have to be realistic. You have to think you want to make money, you know, that’s all,” Alcaraz told reporters on Monday.

“…Arabia has the highest prize fund ever, so that was good motivation, at least for me.”

The Spaniard has not achieved much success at the Paris Masters in recent years; his best result was his performance in the quarterfinals. Alcaraz won the French Open and Wimbledon titles this year but said the season had taken its toll.

“I didn’t play good tennis at this tournament. I guess by the end of the year I was tired, or yeah, like I said last year, I needed to understand that the season after September is still going on,” he said.

“The calendar is very busy and very demanding. So, going into the last tournament of the year, maybe I was tired over the last year, I didn’t play as well as I wanted, but going into this year, I think I feel different.”

The top seeds begin their campaigns on Tuesday, with some matches starting earlier on Monday.

Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas, seeded 10th, beat Spain’s Roberto Carballes Baena 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 in the round of 16, while Frenchman Adrian Mannarino shocked American Tommy Paul, seeded 11th, 6 -3, 7-5.

On Tuesday, Alcaraz will play Chilean Nicolas Jarry in the 1/8 finals.

The indoor tournament in Paris will last until November 3.

(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news feed – Reuters)