Casper Ruud helped his fellow Scandinavian Holger Rune to avoid controversy during a recent press conference that they held together.
While the relationship between the two most successful Scandinavian tennis players of the 2020s didn't look too promising initially, it improved as time went by.
After a couple of years on the ATP Tour, they even forgot their controversial match from the French Open and likely also understood that what happened in Paris happened in the heat of the moment.
Now, they even enjoy exhibition events together, and not just one, but two. Ruud and Rune joined forces to compete in the 2024 Nordic Battle, which is a series of two exhibition matches.
The first one was held in Norway, on Ruud's home ground. The Norwegian player won that match before they moved to Copenhagen, Denmark, for the second match of the Nordic Battle.
This time, Rune will have an advantage in a match that will take place on December 3rd, 2024, and prior to that, both held a press conference during which they answered multiple questions.
A funny moment came when Rune was asked a question about taxes. The Danish player resides in Monaco, like many professional athletes, and that was a reason for the question.
Rune was asked whether it is difficult for professional athletes from Denmark to reside in the country since the taxes in Denmark are some of the highest in Europe.
Before the Danish player could answer the question, Ruud jumped in, trying to shield his rival from a similar controversy that he was embroiled in only a few weeks prior.
The Norwegian advised fellow ATP player not to answer the question about the taxes while suggesting him to "zip" his mouth and not talk about the topic.
"It's probably best if you don't answer that. I don't think you have to answer. You just have to do it like this... [showing zipping gesture on his mouth]."
It's not a coincidence that Ruud had such a prompt response when the question about taxes was brought up, as he had his own controversy only recently.
In an interview with Dagens Industri this October, Ruud talked about the Norwegian tax system, and he made it clear that he wasn't really a fan of it.
The 25-year-old player suggested that the moves made by the Norwegian government forced many of his compatriots to leave the country.
"I have to admit that I have also thought about moving. There are very drastic tax increases that have been introduced in recent years. It definitely hurts to pay so much more in taxes."
"I think it is a completely wrong way to go on the part of the Norwegian government. They are shooting themselves in the foot and causing a lot of capital and people to flee the country."
Shortly after his comments, Ruud received a response from multiple Norwegian politicians, who defended the tax system in the country.
Eigil Knutsen, for example, who leads the Labour Party, talked to Nettavisen, explaining that the Norwegian tax system allows benefits for everyone based on contributions from all income classes.
"Our community is based on us contributing according to our ability. This is how we provide good community solutions such as free school, free health care and security for those who fall outside."
"The tax level in Norway is on par with countries we compare ourselves with. Among other things, tax on average wages in Norway is, for example, lower than in Germany, Denmark, Iceland, Finland and the Netherlands."
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