Cameron Norrie has rejected calls to speak out on human rights abuses at an exhibition tournament branded “the latest jamboree of Saudi sportswashing” in Riyadh next month.
And the British No.1 claimed the 12-man tournament will help his bid “to potentially win the Australian Open" in January.
Amnesty International called on Wimbledon semi-finalist Norrie to use the Diriyah Tennis Cup to raise human rights issues - such as the imprisonment of Leeds University PhD student Salma al-Shehab.
Andy Murray has previously revealed he has turned down big money offers to play in Saudi Arabia because of the Kingdom’s appalling human rights record.
But world No.14 Norrie said: "I’m not a politician and I don't feel it’s right for me to get involved with individual government politics. My job is to be a professional tennis player and this event in Saudi allows me to train with some of the best players in the world and to potentially win the Australian Open."
Daniil Medvedev, Alexander Zverev, Dominic Thiem, Stan Wawrinka and Andrey Rublev are other stars to compete at the event from December 8-10.
Saudi Arabia has staged Formula One races and big boxing matches as well as investing in Newcastle United and the LIV Golf tour.
But Felix Jakens, Amnesty International UK’s Head of Priority Campaigns, said: “We were never going to be telling people like Cameron Norrie where they should or shouldn’t play tennis, but by appearing in Diriyah, Cameron should realise he’s effectively being deliberately hired in to take part in the latest jamboree of Saudi sportswashing.
“Cameron has a big platform and genuine influence, and he should use this to show solidarity with people like Selma al-Shehab who are being cruelly persecuted in Saudi Arabia.
“Earlier this year, 81 people were executed in a single day in Saudi Arabia, we’ve recently seen Twitter users like the Leeds student Salma al-Shehab given huge jail sentences, and there’s been no accountability for the shocking murder of Jamal Khashoggi.
“What Saudi Arabia appears to look for with these competitions is a smiling high-profile sports star who will studiously avoid talking about human rights - Cameron should speak out.”
Journalist Jamal Khashoggi was murdered by the regime in 2018 while Al-Shehab was jailed in August under Saudi anti-terrorism legislation for using Twitter in peaceful support of women’s rights activists.
Asked at Wimbledon about the chances of a Saudi breakaway league in tennis to mirror golf, Murray said: “They put on an event in Saudi Arabia a few years ago, and I was offered to play there. I would say a lot of the top players and bigger names turned it down. And I, personally, wouldn't go and play there.”
Spaniard Roberto Bautista-Agut is among the players to accept an invitation to an exhibition event in St Petersburg, Russia from December 1-4.
Jelena Djokovic has insisted there was nothing "dodgy" about the Serbian superstar's physio mixing a drink courtside at the Paris Masters.
The video showing Djokovic's physio Ulises Badio during the semi-final win over Stefanos Tsitsipas has been viewed millions of times on social media.
But Jelena Jelena Djokovic wrote: "I see people trying to be private about their business in a world where everyone feels like they have every right to point a camera at you whenever they want. Apparently, wanting/trying to be private makes you dodgy nowadays.
"He will talk when he is ready to talk. Sit a bit in silence. Mind yourself more. Not everything you see is controversial. It could be private. Is that allowed?"
