Andy Murray has once again taken to social media to mock his friend and fellow British tennis player Liam Broady for his involvement in the controversial Six Kings Slam event in Saudi Arabia.
The retired tennis star has been a vocal critic of the lucrative exhibition tournament, which offers the highest prize money in the history of the sport.
Murray teased Broady, who is working as a pundit for Sky Sports Tennis’ coverage of the event, by tweeting: “Ahhhh now it makes sense @Liambroady”, accompanied by several ‘dollar’ emojis.
This jab follows Murray’s previous criticism of the tournament, which he described as “an exhibition tennis event that nobody cares about”.
The Six Kings Slam, taking place in Riyadh, boasts an unprecedented prize purse.
Players are guaranteed £1.15 million just for participating, with the winner set to pocket £4.6 million – double the amount awarded to the Wimbledon champion.
Top-ranked players including Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, and Rafael Nadal are taking part in the event.
However, the tournament offers no ATP ranking points as the 2024 season draws to a close.
The WTA Finals are also scheduled to be held in Saudi Arabia in three weeks’ time, further highlighting the country’s growing influence in professional tennis.
Despite the lucrative rewards, Murray has consistently refused invitations to play in Saudi tournaments.
Murray’s criticism of the Six Kings Slam began when Broady praised the tournament’s promotional video, which featured tennis stars as characters from Indiana Jones.
Broady tweeted: “Speechless as to how damn cool this promo is. Probably the best I’ve ever seen in tennis. Would watch this movie. 10/10.”
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Andy Murray has joked about his pal Liam Broady’s arrival at the Saudi event
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Murray swiftly responded: “Except it’s not a movie and you won’t watch it because it’s an exhibition tennis event that nobody cares about.”
This exchange highlights Murray’s scepticism towards the event and its marketing tactics.
The former world number one’s humorous jabs at Broady reflect his broader stance on Saudi Arabia’s involvement in tennis.
While Murray’s comments are often laced with humour, they carry a serious undertone regarding Saudi Arabia’s human rights record.
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Liam Broady was over the moon to be involved in the Saudi event
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The former Wimbledon champion has consistently turned down substantial financial incentives to participate in Saudi tournaments, prioritising his principles over potential earnings.
Murray’s refusal to compromise his beliefs for millions in appearance fees stands in contrast to some of his peers who have chosen to participate.
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Andy Murray has other loves in life than tennis, including golf
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Despite the controversy, the Six Kings Slam has attracted top talent.
In Wednesday’s matches, Sinner defeated Medvedev 6-0, 6-3, while Alcaraz bested Rune 6-4, 6-2.