Rafael Nadal Signs Saudi Tennis Ambassador Deal as Kingdom Continues Assault on Sport
Rafael Nadal, the 37-year-old Spanish tennis champion and winner of 22 Grand Slams, has been appointed as the ambassador for the Saudi Tennis Federation. The announcement comes as part of Saudi Arabia’s ongoing efforts to bolster its presence in the world of professional sports by hosting more tournaments.
In a press release issued by the federation, Nadal expressed his enthusiasm about contributing to the growth of tennis globally. Everywhere you look in Saudi Arabia, you can see growth and progress, and I’m excited to be part of that, he said. Beyond playing tennis, I want to help the sport grow far and wide across the world, and in Saudi, there is real potential.
Nadal’s appointment follows a significant year for tennis in Saudi Arabia. The country successfully hosted its inaugural ATP Tour event, the Next Gen ATP Finals in Jeddah, and ended the year on a high note with exhibition matches featuring top players like Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz, Aryna Sabalenka, and Ons Jabeur.
As part of his new role, Nadal will dedicate a portion of his time each year to the development and promotion of tennis in Saudi Arabia. The Saudi federation also revealed plans to establish a new Rafa Nadal Academy in the country.
Sport holds great importance in Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision 2030 reform agenda, which aims to transform Saudi Arabia into a thriving tourism and business hub while transitioning from a reliance on crude oil. In recent years, Saudi Arabia has attracted renowned international football stars, including Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar, to play in the Saudi Pro League. The country has also hosted major boxing matches and launched the LIV Golf tour to rival the PGA Tour. Additionally, Saudi Arabia has secured the hosting rights for the 2034 World Cup.
However, Saudi Arabia’s sports endeavors have faced criticism from detractors who accuse the kingdom of leveraging sport to improve its international reputation in the face of ongoing concerns over human rights and the environment.
The five-year agreement to bring the Next Gen ATP Finals to Jeddah symbolizes the kingdom’s commitment to showcasing tennis events on an international scale. The Saudi Tennis Federation believes that this is just the first among many professional tournaments that will take place in Saudi Arabia in the future.
Rafael Nadal’s partnership with the Saudi Tennis Federation is expected to bring further visibility and progress to the sport, both within the kingdom and worldwide. As Nadal embarks on this new role, tennis enthusiasts eagerly await the positive impact he will make as a champion athlete and ambassador for the game.
