Casper Ruud didn't want to address much the reactions he received following his comments on Saudi Arabia and the Norway government but noted that he will at least "for a while" refrain from talking about politics.
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This week, the world No. 8 competed at the Stockholm Open and he was asked to share his thoughts on the inaugural Six Kings Slam that was taking place in Riyadh this week.
In case you missed it, the Saudis hosted a star-studded four-day exhibition featuring some of the biggest names of the game - Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, Daniil Medvedev and Holger Rune. And there was huge prize money offered as every participant was guaranteed to go home with at least $1.5 million, while the winner would collect $6 million - which is the biggest prize money ever offered in tennis history.
Naturally, it led to some strong reactions, with some accusing the players of money grabbing and claiming that the Saudis were only doing it with the intent of sportswashing and improving their image. Asked about that, Ruud suggested that the Saudi authorities look to be wanting changes - that they need to be given an opportunity - and noted that a change always has to start from something. Also, he said that there are other "controversial places" in the world but tennis is being played there.
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Also, the Norwegian tennis star criticized his government over what he thinks are high taxes and that prompted responses from certain Norwegian politicians.
While some thought Ruud's comments were reasonable, he also faced criticism and scrutiny. And after exiting Stockholm in the quarterfinal following a loss to Tallon Griekspoor, he was asked if he had any responses.
"A lot of people have a lot of opinions on anything you say because people have different views. So I won't speak much about politics for a while," the three-time Grand Slam finalist said.
What did Ruud exactly say?
One of the first things the former world No. 2 did was highlight that he wasn't invited to play at the Six Kings Slams but that he refused a couple of similar offers in the past.
Then, he dropped a pretty strong argument. A couple of years ago, the WTA suspended all of their activities in China over the mysterious disappearance of Peng Shuai after the criticized a high-ranked politician. But after the COVID restrictions ended, WTA events returned to China last year despite the women's tennis association never getting some answers about Peng.
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"I didn't get an offer from the Six Kings Slam, but I have had offers in the past, and I have chosen not to go. It is obviously a controversial country in terms of many things, but there are other countries that are controversial as well that we go to and play in. Look at China with Peng Shuai. So it will be inevitable to play in Saudi in the future, I heard they will host a new tournament (Masters 1000) in the future," Ruud told SpiiXperten.
Ruud: People just say it's sportwashing, what if a change really happens?
Further explaining his point, the Norwegian tennis star didn't deny that the Saudis did some things wrong in the past but also underlined that a change can't happen without something prompting it.
"Obviously they have a lot of money, and I know what I am going to say will probably be described as sportswashing, but it seems to me that their new leader Mohammed bin Salman wants to do something and especially a lot of things in sport. He wants to, maybe, change the country and maybe make it a bit more westernized. Athletes going there could lead to a change, who knows? I know that I might look very naive saying this, because people will just say that's sportswashing covering what is actually going on. But if they never started anywhere, I am not sure there would ever be a change," Ruud explained.
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If you want to start with sport, I think it is something that other Middle Eastern countries have done, you know, welcoming sports people and Western culture to their country, like Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Somewhat also Doha in Qatar. Let's see. I am sure it will be more and more in the future, and there are also a lot of rumours on the ATP Tour if there is going to be an extra tournament in Saudi Arabia. I have chosen not to go so far, but it seems to me that it is inevitable, that they will somehow be big in tennis in the future and they already have the Next Gen Finals, so let's see what the future brings.
