Casper Ruud reveals he rejected offers from ‘controversial country’ Saudi Arabia amid the Six Kings Slam

Casper Ruud thinks playing in Saudi Arabia is inevitable even though he rejected to play in the country in the past.

Casper Ruud reveals he rejected offers from ‘controversial country’ Saudi Arabia amid the Six Kings Slam

Casper Ruud (Image via X)

Some of the biggest names in tennis are in Riyadh for the Six Kings Slam which has offered a huge amount to not just the winner, but to each of them for their appearance in the exhibition event. For participating, each player will get $1.5 million, while the winner will receive $6 million.

Casper Ruud, even though he reached multiple finals in Grand Slam events, is not a part of it. The event has Novak Djokovic, retiring Rafael Nadal, Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, Daniil Medvedev, and Holger Rune. 

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Ruud revealed that even though he got the offer to play in Saudi Arabia, he decided not to feature as the country is surrounded by controversy. The Asian country is accused of ‘sport-washing’ to improve its ruined image. 

I didn’t get an offer for 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. 

Casper Ruud told SpilXperten

Ruud added that even though Saudi Arabia is a controversial country, so is China, as he recalled the Peng Shuai incident. And this is why the Norwegian is confident that playing important tournaments in Saudi Arabia is inevitable.

Casper Ruud thinks Saudi Arabia is trying to become a Westernized country

In that same interview with SpilXperten, Casper Ruud talked about the big role Saudi may play in tennis in the future. Ruud believes that though Saudi Arabia is accused of covering what’s happening in the country, they needed to start somewhere to change it, and they started with sports. He thinks that Saudi Arabia is doing what UAE did, that is, “welcoming sports people and western culture.” 

Casper Ruud
Casper Ruud (Image via X)

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.

Casper Ruud said

The 25-year-old is currently in action in the Stockholm Open, where he has defeated Lorenzo Sonego in his opening match. He will next play against Tallon Griekspoor in the quarterfinals.