Casper Ruud is more than just a tennis player, he’s also a “normal person”.
He has views on the tax system in his home country of Norway, he has opinions on sports washing in Saudi Arabia, and he also happens to be the world No.6 and a three-time grand slam finalist.
Whoever said sport and politics shouldn’t mix hasn’t met the 26-year-old, who sees the value in understanding the world and having an opinion.
“I do feel like when a reporter or a journalist asks a question, unless it’s a very no-go question – then I think you should be allowed to say no – but I think it’s respectful to try to give an answer on most questions,” Ruud told this masthead.
“And yeah, I’ve been vocal about certain political things in the past, and I don’t think I would stop if I’m asked again, but when I’ve said my opinion once, I don’t like being asked again.”
One opinion Ruud has voiced is his thoughts on tennis tournaments increasingly heading to Saudi Arabia.
Ruud’s comments came after a number of top players, including Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, attended the Six Kings Slam in Riyadh. This was an exhibition event where participants pocketed a minimum of $US1.5 million ($2.4 million) in prize money, with the winner taking home $US6 million.
“I didn’t get an offer from the Six Kings Slam, but I’ve had offers in the past [to play in Saudi Arabia], and I’ve chosen not to go,” Ruud told Danish outlet SpliXperten.
“It is of course a controversial country in many ways, but there are also other countries that are controversial that we travel to and play in.”
Casper Ruud won his first-round match in five sets against Spain’s Jaume Munar.Credit: Photograph by Chris Hopkins
Talking after his five-set victory over Spaniard Jaume Munar in the first round of the Australian Open, Ruud said athletes were entitled to their opinions.
“I said what I said, and I will stand for it, and maybe I’m also wrong, maybe I’ll change my mind, who knows?
“I mean, I’m still quite young, so there are still things I can learn, but I think it’s fair also for the reporter and journalist to try to give good answers and try to kind of explain how we’re thinking.”
Ruud has also been critical of the Norwegian government politicians, accusing them of “shooting themselves in the foot” after they raised taxes.
“You’ve heard many times that you maybe shouldn’t get involved in it [politics], and not [have] too many opinions, but at the end of the day, I’m a Norwegian citizen just like anyone else and I have my view and I have my opinion on things I think we should be allowed to,” Ruud said.
“Because, I don’t like it when people are like, he’s an athlete, or she doesn’t know what she’s talking about because she only does sport. We are also entitled to have an opinion, so whether you agree or not, I mean, in politics everyone kind of agrees or disagrees with each other, but there are certain things that I like, and I’m more focused on within politics.
“I’ve kind of said what I said, and I won’t be shy to talk about it again if it happens to feel natural for me.”
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