Federer knocked back opportunity to play Saudi event

IF Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic thought that the controversy over their exhibition in Saudi Arabia might melt away, they received a rude awakening yesterday — courtesy of their rival Roger Federer. The Swiss revealed that he had been approached to participate in the highly contentious venture. Nadal and Djokovic say they signed contracts a year ago but were now seeking more information before deciding whether to go ahead with it amid the furore surrounding the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Ahead of the Paris Masters, Federer was asked if he had been invited to play in the Saudi Arabia event. ‘They contacted me to, yeah,’ he said. ‘I don’t want to play. It’s Okay. I’m happy practising. I’m happy doing other things. So, for me, it was a quick decision.’ The match which is causing Nadal and Djokovic so much grief is taking place on December 22 in Jeddah.