It didn’t take long for tennis fans to notice the tension. A short clip of Jannik Sinner and Alexander Zverev sharing an awkward moment quickly made the rounds online, just weeks after Zverev claimed tournaments were favoring stars like Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz with slower courts when the two crossed paths again ahead of the Six Kings Slam exhibition in Riyadh. Sinner’s subtle jab left fans both entertained and speechless.
How Did Alexander Zverev’s Shanghai Comments Stir Controversy?
Zverev’s comments about the court speeds first made headlines during the 2025 Shanghai Masters. After his second-round win over France’s Valentin Royer, the German expressed frustration with the slow surface, claiming it was deliberately adjusted to benefit younger stars such as Alcaraz and Sinner.
His comments quickly sparked debate across the tennis world, with many questioning whether his criticism was justified or just another excuse following a tough match.
“I hate when [court speeds are] the same,” Zverev said during his on-court interview. “I know that tournament directors are going in that direction because obviously they want Jannik and Carlos to do well every tournament. We always had different surfaces. You couldn’t play the same tennis the same way on a grass court, hard court, and a clay court. Nowadays, you can play almost the same way on every surface.”
The remarks echoed earlier statements by Roger Federer, who had voiced similar concerns during an appearance on Andy Roddick’s Served podcast in September. Federer suggested that modern tournaments often slow down courts, making it harder for big hitters to overpower more technically skilled players like Alcaraz and Sinner.
When asked about Zverev’s remarks following his second-round win over Daniel Altmaier in Shanghai, Sinner responded calmly, choosing diplomacy over confrontation. “Well, I don’t know what to say, to be honest,” Sinner said. “You know, we [Carlos Alcaraz] don’t, at least I don’t make the courts. I just want to play tennis to be honest and try to play as good as I can.”
Zverev’s campaign ended in the third round with a three-set loss to World No. 54 Arthur Rinderknech. Fast forward to October, and both players reunited in Riyadh ahead of the highly anticipated Six Kings Slam exhibition. A promotional video shared on social media captured Sinner arriving at the practice courts and touring the premises.
However, one brief clip quickly stole the spotlight.
the jumpscare at 0:10 pic.twitter.com/TKAX840RQc
— ۟ (@jnksnrs) October 13, 2025
In the video, Sinner and Zverev are seen sitting courtside, chatting casually, when Sinner interrupts the German mid-sentence to ask, “You lost against who?” Zverev, slightly caught off guard, replies, “Rinderknech.” Without missing a beat, Sinner nods and says, “Right.”
How Did Fans React to Jannik Sinner and Zverev’s Awkward Exchange?
That short exchange set the tennis world abuzz. Fans immediately took to X to share their reactions. One user posted, “I can’t believe he said this ,” while another wrote, “LMAOO, he woke up and chose violence!!”
Some pointed out the tension, commenting, “You can tell it’s awkward omg haha,” while another added, “SHADYYYYY”
Others couldn’t resist poking fun at Zverev’s previous remarks, “Should have also asked were the courts slowed down for Rinderknech?” and another added, “not everyone can be down 0-4 against rinderknech only to come back and win the match in straights.”
Another fan sarcastically added, “We have 4 slams in the picture and 890000 different excuses,” referring to the growing rivalry and playful digs among top ATP players. Meanwhile, one user summed it up neatly with, “He knows what he is doing, that boy,” acknowledging Sinner’s perfectly timed and subtly mischievous question.
The Six Kings Slam is a high-profile exhibition tennis event held Oct. 15-18 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, as part of the Riyadh Season. It is played on indoor hard courts at the ANB Arena and features six top male players: Novak Djokovic, Alcaraz, Sinner, Zverev, Taylor Fritz and Stefanos Tsitsipas.
Djokovic and Alcaraz are seeded directly into the semifinals, while the others battle in the quarterfinals. Each participant is guaranteed $1.5 million, and the winner earns an additional $4.5 million, making it one of the richest exhibition events in tennis.
MORE: Fans Lash Out at Alexander Zverev as German Echoes Roger Federer’s Statements on Court Conditions Favoring Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner
