A few weeks ago, Rafael Nadal, a 22-time Major champion, took on a new role as the representative for the Saudi Tennis Federation. As expected, this decision has raised numerous questions, but Nadal is not particularly interested in defending it. He acknowledges that he receives financial compensation from Saudi Arabia, but he emphasizes that he does not require the money as it will not have a significant impact on his life. Instead, Nadal’s focus is on promoting tennis in Saudi Arabia and highlighting the progress they have made in all areas. He plays a crucial role in Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 initiative, which aims to encourage greater participation in tennis and other sports among both boys and girls.
As part of his involvement, Nadal plans to open a tennis complex in Saudi Arabia and visit the country at least once a year to oversee a junior tennis clinic and monitor the development of the sport. The aspiring young players will have access to the new facilities and receive guidance from renowned coaches, paving their way towards college tennis or a professional career. Additionally, Nadal and his coaches from Mallorca will share their knowledge and inspiration with Saudi teams associated with the Olympic & Paralympic Committees, contributing to the overall growth of sports in the country.
Saudi Arabia has made significant efforts to encourage its youth to pursue athletic goals. One example is the Tennis For All program, which introduced tennis to 30,000 schoolchildren in 2023. The sport has also been incorporated into the curriculum of 200 schools, with plans to expand this number to 400 in the coming year. The increasing number of tennis clubs and registered young players is accompanied by the organization of national tournaments for different age groups. Saudi Arabia’s commitment to sports extends beyond tennis, as they have hosted various events in football, motorsports, equestrian, esports, and golf.
The 2023 Next Gen ATP Finals marked a historic moment as the first professional tennis event in Saudi Arabia, and the country will continue to host the tournament in the future. With Nadal’s involvement, there are high expectations for the further development of tennis in Saudi Arabia. The country is eagerly preparing for the 2024 edition of the WTA Finals and is also looking forward to hosting the Six Kings Slam and many other exciting events.
Despite facing skeptics, Nadal’s ambassadorship signals a promising era for tennis enthusiasts in Saudi Arabia, and the sport’s growth in the country will only become more significant and expansive. Nadal himself acknowledges that Saudi Arabia pays him, but he emphasizes that the money is not essential to him. He has not signed a lucrative contract like other athletes, and he is content with that. His true commitment lies in promoting tennis in Saudi Arabia because he believes in the future of the sport. He wants to make it clear that he is not involved to improve Saudi Arabia’s image; his objective is purely focused on the sport itself, as stated by Rafael Nadal.
According to the Source tennisworldusa.org