Key Takeaways
- Carlos Alcaraz, world No. 3, will play in the Vienna ATP event.
- The Six Kings Slam in Saudi Arabia was postponed to December.
- Alcaraz last played in Vienna in 2021, reaching the semi-finals.
The Vienna ATP event has secured the participation of world No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz after the cancellation of a Saudi Arabian exhibition event. Tournament Director Herwig Straka announced the news, stating that the decision was made swiftly following the postponement of the Six Kings Slam.
Straka explained, 'When indications emerged on Wednesday that the Six Kings Slam… would be postponed until the end of December, Tournament Director Herwig Straka reacted immediately and contacted Carlos Alcaraz’s management.'
Alcaraz agreed to join the Vienna event without hesitation, adding, 'His commitment is a tremendous honour for our tournament.'
The Vienna ATP event, an indoor, hard-court ATP 500-level event starting on October 26, now features Alcaraz alongside other top players such as Alexander Zverev, Alex de Minaur, and Lerner Tien. Further top ten players announced include Daniil Medvedev, Flavio Cobolli, and Frances Tiafoe.
Alcaraz last played in Vienna in 2021, where he reached the semi-finals. Since returning from a long injury layoff at the US Open in August, he has shown inconsistent form, winning in Tokyo but being knocked out in the third round of the Shanghai Masters by Zizou Bergs.
The Six Kings Slam, originally scheduled for October 21-24 and to be streamed live by Netflix, was postponed due to deadly attacks by Yemen’s Houthis on the kingdom. Organisers hope to hold the tournament on December 27-30.
Alcaraz’s participation in Vienna is seen as a boost for the event, which aims to attract top talent. The former world No. 1 has not played in Vienna since 2021 and is expected to bring significant attention to the tournament.
The Vienna ATP event now offers a strong lineup of players, with Alcaraz joining a star-studded cast. The tournament is set to provide exciting matches and a platform for top players to showcase their skills.
When indications emerged on Wednesday that the Six Kings Slam… would be postponed until the end of December, Tournament Director Herwig Straka reacted immediately and contacted Carlos Alcaraz’s management.
Herwig Straka, Tournament Director, Vienna ATP event
His commitment is a tremendous honour for our tournament.
Herwig Straka, Tournament Director, Vienna ATP event
