Andy Murray: 'Unfortunately, that's the way it is with many sports these days' Credit: Getty Images/Clive Brunskill
Andy Murray has softened his view of playing in Saudi Arabia weeks after saying he would never consider competing in that country.
Saudi Arabia has made progress by investing in a range of sports, including golf, boxing and football, and the state has been accused of «sport laundering» to divert attention from its human rights record.
Early June in Surbitone Murray reacted to the news. Saudi investors who struck a deal with the PGA, stating emphatically that he would not play in the country.
However, less than a month after the news that the men's tennis tour had «positive» talks with state-owned PIF, Murray opened the turnaround door. While he said it was a «bad» path for tennis, he said it was definitely something he would «have to think about».
“I mean, in the past, when we were asked to go and play there, we were asked to go and play exhibition tournaments,” Murray said. “If they become big tournaments on the tour, it becomes a slightly different issue, and really difficult, depending on how the tour works, rankings and everything, how important they are to participating in other events and things.”
When you start to miss them, you are obviously punished for it. Yes, that's definitely something I need to think about. Unfortunately, this is the way things are now in many sports.”Murray's comments Saturday were a significant departure from his earlier anti-Saudi stance, which he has held for a number of years.
In June 2022, Murray reiterated that he would «not personally go there to play», and last year his agent Matt Gentry said he forfeited a seven-figure salary to play in the exhibition tournament.
Murray was asked about the situation on Saturday, before Wimbledon, when ATP chairman Andrea Gaudenzi gave an interview to the Financial Times last week, describing his talks with the Saudi investment fund as «positive».
The ATP Next Gen Finals is expected to take place in Jeddah for the foreseeable future. A five-year deal was reportedly in place.
The Diria Tennis Cup, an exhibition event, was held last December with British number one men's Cameron Norrie, however an official tour has never been held in the Kingdom.
On Friday, WTA Chairman Steve Simon also confirmed reports that he had also held talks with Saudi investors, saying: “We have not made any decisions and have not entered into any formal negotiations. Now they talk about many sports. We value like everyone else.»Djokovic wants «honesty, tradition» to be protected in the deal
Speaking on Saturday, 23-time top champion Novak Djokovic said it was «just a matter of time» for the kingdom to be targeted by tennis, but that there was «a lot to learn» from the debacle that the golfing world has endured.
«I think the president of the ATP and WTA will probably answer these questions better than me in terms of what they think is the strategic move for tennis,» Djokovic said. “Personally, I think it was just a matter of time before they had to start some kind of negotiation or talk about tennis to try and get into tennis.
“They have done this with almost every other sport in the world. except for basketball. We see what has been happening in football over the past few years, the stars who go there for a lot of money. We know that there is Formula 1, all other sports, golf and so on.
“I think we as a separate sport on a global level are probably the closest thing to golf in terms of how we see the sport. I think we can probably learn a lot from this example, some positives, some negatives, and try to structure the deal if it goes in the right direction.”
“This will protect the integrity, traditions and history of this sport, while still being able to develop it in a way that is appropriate.”
British No. 5. Liam Brody, who previously wore rainbow laces on the court in support of LGBT+ community, a question has also been asked about this issue.
Mir #147 said it would create a «moral dilemma» for him due to the anti-LGBT community in the Kingdom+ reputation and links to the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
But Brody also said he wouldn't feel able to turn down a huge salary like golfer Rory McIlroy did because of his lower status in tennis.
“I don’t know where we draw the line, but it cannot be a tool whereby people involved in the killing of innocent people are simply allowed to reassimilate into society. I don't think it's okay,» Brody said.
«I think it's a moral dilemma for everyone. But at the end of the day, it's my job and I need to support my family. It's a decision every player has to make.»
< p>«In football and golf, Rory McIlroy can turn down £3 million to £400 million and not wear out. Whereas in tennis, if you're offered a million for someone in my shoes and at this point in my career, it's impossible to turn down that kind of money. That's why I say it's up to the people at the top of the game to decide.»
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