Stan Wawrinka didn’t hold back after Jannik Sinner insisted he wasn’t motivated by the £4.6 million payday he earned at the Six Kings Slam in Saudi Arabia. The Italian superstar, who won the tournament by besting Carlos Alcaraz in the final, claimed in an Eurosport interview that his primary drive was the chance to compete with the world’s best, not the eye-popping prize money. “I don’t play for money,” Sinner said. “Of course it’s a nice prize, but I went there because there was possibly the six best players in the world… it’s much more important the health I have and surrounding myself with great people.”
But Sinner’s comments seemed to spark some skepticism, especially from Wawrinka, a veteran who has watched the sport’s financial landscape change dramatically over his two-decade career. After a clip of Sinner’s interview circulated on X (formerly Twitter), Wawrinka responded with a single laughing face emoji, sending a strong message that he wasn’t buying Sinner’s claim.
Wawrinka’s reaction speaks volumes, especially considering the dramatic prize money disparity. While Sinner pocketed £4.6 million in a few days in Riyadh, Wawrinka has earned £460,000 throughout the year. The 38-year-old Swiss legend has not reached a Grand Slam third round since 2020, underscoring the vast differences between the prize opportunities available to tennis elites and those lower in the rankings or past their peak.
Sinner, the reigning world No. 1 and winner of this year’s Australian Open and US Open, also added that he values personal health and family over money, stating that he already lives “a good life without this money.” Yet, as Saudi Arabia continues to pour massive investments into global sports, Sinner’s participation—and his statements—are likely to fuel an ongoing debate around the role of financial incentives in tennis.
Wawrinka’s quick, humorous jab sheds light on a growing question: Are players truly focused solely on the sport’s competitive side, or are big payouts too tempting to ignore? Sinner’s comments may have been well-intentioned, but Wawrinka’s reaction suggests that for some, the allure of a multimillion-dollar payday might be hard to separate from the thrill of competition. With Saudi money reshaping tennis and other sports, expect this tension to remain front and center.
