Rafael Nadal announced as Saudi ambassador as John McEnroe slams tennis partnership
Rafael Nadal has announced his surprising new role, just days after John McEnroe called out a ‘total joke’ in the sport of tennis.
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Rafael Nadal has been named as an ambassador for the Saudi Tennis Federation, just days after American tennis legend John McEnroe slammed tennis’ growing partnership with the oil-rich Gulf kingdom.
The announcement comes after a busy 2023 for tennis in Saudi Arabia, which hosted its first ATP Tour event -- the Next Gen ATP Finals in Jeddah -- and closed out the year with exhibition matches pitting Novak Djokovic against Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka against Ons Jabeur.
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Nadal, who recently pulled out of the Australian Open with a hip injury, visited a junior tennis clinic in Riyadh in 2023, and his new role will involve “dedicated time in the kingdom each year” to grow the sport as well as the development of a new Rafa Nadal Academy, the Saudi federation said on Monday.
Growth and progress that’s important to see and the STF is working on that.
— Rafa Nadal (@RafaelNadal) January 15, 2024
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
“Everywhere you look in Saudi Arabia, you can see growth and progress and I’m excited to be part of that,” the 37-year-old Spaniard, winner of 22 Grand Slams, said in a federation press release.
“I continue to play tennis as I love the game. But beyond playing I want to help the sport grow far and wide across the world and in Saudi there is real potential.”
The announcement is sure to irk McEnroe, who’s currently in Australia commentating the Australian Open for ESPN.
Speaking before the start of the tournament, the American great hit out at suggestions that Saudi Arabia could host this year’s WTA Finals.
McEnroe called the potential move ‘laughable’ given the nation’s questionable treatment of women.
“It wouldn’t shock me,” McEnroe told ESPN.
“Let’s put it this way: money talks. ‘Oh, no, I wouldn’t do that. How much was I offered? On second thought maybe I will do that.’
McEnroe said he disagreed with Saudi Arabia hosting tennis events.
“Personally, I disagree with it completely, with the golf and the tennis,” McEnroe said.
“The ladies are going to play the WTA Finals there? Are you kidding me?
“Because they treat women so well? That part is to me laughable.
“At the same time, which is also laughable, is the people that can criticise tennis players or golfers for doing something that virtually every business and the government do, which is deal with Saudi Arabia.
“This idea that tennis players have to set the moral standard, or golfers for that matter, when they’re all making the money, it’s a total joke as far as I’m concerned. We’ll see what happens.”
Sport is a major component of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision 2030 reform agenda, which aims to transform Saudi Arabia into a tourism and business hub while transitioning the world’s biggest crude oil exporter away from fossil fuels.
Saudi Arabia has lured football stars like Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar to play in the Saudi Pro League, hosted heavyweight bouts and funded the upstart LIV Golf tour to take on the PGA Tour.
The kingdom has also been named host of the 2034 Football World Cup.
But Saudi Arabia has been accused by its critics of “sportswashing” by using sport to improve its international reputation after widespread criticism for its human rights and environmental record.
The five-year deal to bring the Next Gen ATP Finals to Jeddah “signals the country’s intent to make tennis a major part of its international calendar and is the first of many likely professional tennis tournaments to be held in the country,” the Saudi federation said.
- with AFP
Originally published as Rafael Nadal announced as Saudi ambassador as John McEnroe slams tennis partnership
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