The Six Kings Slam is taking centre stage in Saudi Arabia this week, with the biggest names in tennis cashing in on one of the most lucrative events in tennis history.
Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, Daniil Medvedev and Holger Rune are in Riyhad this week playing in an exhibition event that will see the six players collect more money than they could expect to get for finishing as a runner-up in a Grand Slam tournament.
The prize money on offer is staggering, with reports suggesting each player taking part will be paid a £1.2million appearance fee, with the tournament winner set to pocket a stunning £4.8million.
If those figures are accurate, this will be the most lucrative tournament of the year by some distance, with Alacraz taking home £2.35million from his Wimbledon win last summer.
Yet some players are still reluctant to play in Saudi Arabia, with the kingdom’s human rights record continuing to be a talking point as their involvement in global sport becomes more significant with each passing month.
Now world No 8 Casper Ruud has confirmed he is among those unsure about Saudi Arabia’s influence in tennis, after he admitted he has turned down offers to play in the kingdom.
“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,” Ruud told SpilXperten.
“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.
“You can definitely discuss China and human rights in China, but we go there every year.
“There was a lot of talk about Peng Shuai and what happened to her, and it’s just to say that if you want to put Saudi Arabia as a controversial country, there should be other countries as well that should be mentioned and we don’t mention those.”
The 7 men with biggest gap between first and last week as world No 1: Roger Federer 14 years, Rafael Nadal No 3
Emma Raducanu quits early and Novak Djokovic strikes back – final weeks of 2024
When asked if it was inevitable that Saudi Arabia would have a big role to play in the future of tennis, he added: “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 westernised. 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.
“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.”
With Saudi sporting chiefs keen to have more influence in tennis, the Six Kings Slam is evidence that they have the game’s top players on board with their plans.
The kingdom has hosted a December exhibition in recent years, while the Next Gen ATP Finals for the best players 21 and under has found a home in Saudi Arabia.
Then next month, the WTA Finals will be held in Saudi Arabia for the first time, in a lucrative long-term deal that will see the women’s game end their season in the Arab ation.
Read Next: Carlos Alcaraz is 8th man to miss out on ATP year-end No 1 after winning two Grand Slams in a season
