Stefanos Tsitsipas’ availability for the Six Kings Slam is now uncertain after he underwent surgery this week. The Greek was a late replacement following Jack Draper’s withdrawal, but local reporting has since raised doubts about his readiness for the Saudi Arabian exhibition.

Greek outlet Tennis24 reports that Tsitsipas “underwent lower back surgery to address the problem that had been troubling him recently,” and that the issue “was causing him severe pain and difficulties in matches and training.” Earlier coverage also described his status as “uncertain.”

The player recently pulled out of the China Open, which made his proposed appearance at the exhibition a surprise. Tennis24 says the surgical recovery ranges from two to six weeks, and adds that the operation could keep him sidelined for up to six weeks. The Six Kings Slam is scheduled to begin on October 15, leaving only a narrow window for recovery.

The event is a non-ATP sanctioned tournament that has attracted leading players with substantial appearance guarantees. Participants are reported to receive a guaranteed $1.5m for taking part, while the winner’s prize is $4.5m. The size of the payouts has been a draw for top players, with names such as Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner mentioned among likely contenders.

Tennis24 tempered certainty about Tsitsipas’ return, noting that his presence is “uncertain” but that “it is not out of the question that the 27-year-old ace will make his comeback at this major event.” Organisers and the player have not released additional statements beyond the reports cited.

Netflix will stream the second edition of the 6 Kings Slam when the Saudi-backed exhibition returns to Riyadh in October. The event, scheduled from October 15 to 18, reunites six high-profile male players for a series of exhibition matches and guaranteed appearance fees that exceed £1m per participant.

The tournament, bankrolled by Saudi Arabia, has drawn scrutiny for the sums on offer relative to the number of matches played. Last year Jannik Sinner won £4.8 million for playing just three matches as he defeated Carlos Alcaraz in the final. The 2025 line-up includes Sinner and Alcaraz alongside Novak Djokovic, Alexander Zverev, Jack Draper and Taylor Fritz.

Format details for the second edition have not been announced. Netflix said it will provide ‘unparalleled access with over 20 cutting-edge cameras.’ The streaming service has moved into live sports previously, showing boxing, golf, WWE and the NFL.

The event’s model, in which top players travel to Riyadh for exhibition competition and large appearance fees, has already produced public comment. Andy Murray once said “nobody cares” about the tournament, a remark that reflects the polarized reception it has received among observers.

Organisers have marketed the 6 Kings Slam as a high-profile exhibition with major financial incentives for players. For critics, the size of the payments for a small number of matches is striking. For participants and rights holders, the money and global distribution through a major streaming platform underline the commercial appeal of staging elite exhibition events outside the traditional tour calendar.

With Netflix on board to broadcast the tournament and the confirmed player list, attention will now turn to the event format and how the organisers present the matches over the four days in October.