Grand slams champions Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal have spoken out about their scheduled appearance in Saudi Arabia later this year amid calls for them to boycott the country.
The two players are set to lock horns for the first time in the country at the King Abdullah Sports City on December 22nd. Called The King Salman Tennis Championship, both players could own thousands for participating in the event, which aims to promote Saudi Arabia’s reputation in the world of sport.
Shortly after the announcement of the exhibition, Saudi Arabia got caught up in major international controversy over the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Khashoggi, who was a vocal critic of the Saudi government, disappeared after entering the Saudi Arabian embassy in Istanbul, Turkey. The government originally denied they knew the whereabouts of Khashoggi, before later admitting that he was killed in the embassy. A group of individuals have since been arrested, but Crowne Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has denied any involvement.
“My team right now is in touch with the people in Saudi Arabia as well as Rafa’s and of course we are all talking to understand the situation better. Because right now we just don’t have enough information, and we have to look into that a bit more and then we’ll make our decision soon.” Djokovic told reporters in Paris on Sunday.
“As I said, it’s a commitment. And I always try to be very professional and respectful towards people that I have commitment with. So of course we are trying to take in consideration everything, all the options.”
11-time French Open champion Nadal took a similar approach when asked about the exhibition. The Spaniard is set to return to action at the Paris Masters after missing the Asian swing due to a knee injury.
“’Of course I’m aware of the situation,’ he said. ‘ But I had a commitment since one year ago to play there. And my team is talking to them, to analyse things.
‘It’s terrible that one journalist lost his life. I know something very bad happened inside there. So we are looking about how evolves the situation and I hope things will be clarified as soon as possible.”
Amnesty International had previously urged both players to use their profile to highlight human rights issues in the country. Despite developments in recent years, Saudi Arabia has been criticised for human rights abuses.
“It’s up to Nadal and Djokovic where they play their lucrative exhibition matches, but if they go to Jeddah we’d like to see them using their profiles to raise human rights issues. Tweeting support for Saudi Arabia’s brave human rights defenders would be a start,” Allan Hogarth of Amnesty International told The Times on October 18th.
Both Djokovic and Nadal will play at the Paris Masters, which will get underway on Monday.
NOTE: Quotes obtained via The Daily Mail
