(Riyadh) Saudi Arabia has continued its sports purchases in order to improve its image on the international scene.
Rafael Nadal became the ambassador of the Saudi Tennis Federation on Tuesday. The 37-year-old Spaniard, who has won 22 career Grand Slam titles, sat out the Australian Open to recover from a torn muscle near the hip where he recently been operated on. He was hoping to make his return to action at Melbourne Park after missing most of the 2023 season.
Nadal will notably have the mandate to promote tennis in Saudi Arabia and will be able to establish a new Rafael Nadal Academy there.
This announcement confirms Saudi Arabia’s tennis ambitions, after the Middle Eastern country agreed to host the ATP Next Gen tournament, which brings together the best players aged 21 and under, in Jeddah until 2027. The women’s circuit is also in talks with Saudi Arabia to present the WTA Finals there.
Many human rights groups claim that women continue to be violated in the Saudi family unit, and point out that homosexuality is still a taboo, as is the case almost everywhere in this region of the globe. .
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman works tirelessly to restore the image of his country, which was tarnished, among other things, following the assassination of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018. He also wants to diversify the Saudi economy Saudi Arabia, and reduce its dependence on fossil fuels.