The Saudi Tennis Federation (STF) announced this Monday through its official channels that Rafael Nadal will be the new ambassador of said entity. The tennis player, 37 years old and heading into the final stretch of his career, has reached an agreement with the Middle East with the aim of consolidating “a long-term commitment to help the growth of the sport and inspire a new generation of tennis players in Saudi Arabia”. In the statement, the SFT also specifies that a series of plans have been launched for the opening of a new headquarters of the Mallorcan’s academy (Rafa Nadal Academy) in the country to “foster talent and serve as a center of excellence.” to help aspiring players fulfill their tennis dreams.”
The agreement, spread through the social networks of the organization and the athlete himself, will oblige Nadal to “spend time in Saudi Arabia each year to help promote and plan the development of boys and girls in sport.” The announcement is accompanied by a photo in which the Spaniard poses smiling in Riyadh, where he gave a clinic with young athletes.
“Wherever you look, in Saudi Arabia you can see growth and progress, and I’m excited to be part of that,” says Nadal, who recently reappeared on the court after practically a year without playing due to an injury; “I still play tennis because I love it, but beyond playing, I want to help the sport grow around the world and in Saudi Arabia there is real potential. The kids who are here today are looking to the future and have a real passion for all sports. If I can help them pick up a racket or just get fit and enjoy the benefits of healthy living, I will be glad I made a difference.”
In its statement, the SFT boasts that Saudi Arabia “is one of the fastest growing countries in the world, where sport is becoming an increasingly important part of daily life, especially for the Kingdom’s 20 million inhabitants under 30 years old.” Likewise, they highlight that “within the framework of Vision 2030 [un ambicioso plan de reforma económica para reducir la dependencia del petróleo y diversificar la economía, aprobado en 2016]sports participation of men and women in Saudi Arabia has increased rapidly and is now approaching 50%.”
An “ideal model”
Nadal’s arrival reaffirms the Arab country’s strategy of turning sport into a geopolitical tool. Now it is tennis, but before it has been football, golf or Formula 1. He recently recruited the Spanish golfer Jon Rahm and in recent times he has promoted various shows. In the case of racket sport, there has long been a rumor that sooner rather than later it will fully land in the country. At the moment it organizes the Next Gen ATP Finals – the Masters Cup for players under 20 years old –, under an agreement that will last at least until 2027, and there is speculation about the possibility that it will be done in the short term with the ownership of some Masters 1000, the most important tournaments after the four Grand Slams (Australia, Roland Garros, Wimbledon and US Open).
Recently, at the end of December, Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic played an exhibition in Riyadh and, according to the media The Athletic, the country is considering the option of promoting an alternative men’s circuit to the current ATP, as has already happened with golf and the LIV league. In this way, he would try to attract the figures thanks to a generous amount of millions and take advantage of the discontent of a large group of tennis players with the functioning of the current system.
Growth and progress that’s important to see and the STF is working on that.
In a recent visit I saw the interest in both aspects and I want to be part of that role of growing the sport of tennis around the world.
The kids are looking to the future and I saw they are passionate… pic.twitter.com/vF3VaJXazH— Rafa Nadal (@RafaelNadal) January 15, 2024
Now, the president of the Saudi Tennis Federation, Arij Almutabagani, considers that the image of Nadal, champion of 22 majors – the second most decorated in history after the Serbian Djokovic – is a perfect promotional element. “He embodies all the values we hold dear in a true winner on and off the track. He is, simply, the ideal model for our boys and girls to follow. It is clear that Rafa lives the best version of himself every day,” the statement says; “His dedication to his training, his commitment to every shot and his way of fighting for every point are values that we hope to instill in our future stars. Rafa transcends tennis and continues to inspire generations around the world. I have no doubt that he will have the same impact in Saudi Arabia.”
Nadal, for his part, continues with the expansion of his academy project. The headquarters are located in Manacor, his hometown, and later opened offices in Mexico (Costa Mujeres, the Mexican Caribbean), Kuwait (Sheikh Jaber Al-Abdullah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah International Tennis Complex) and Greece (on the peninsula of Halkidiki, one of the most important tourist destinations in the Hellenic country). “The academy in Diriyah [al noroeste de la capital saudita] represents a long-term commitment to tennis and the Kingdom. As a learning center, its objective is to accelerate the path of talented people in tennis, providing players with an ideal environment to learn and improve their competitive skills,” says the Spaniard in a statement collected by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA). ).