Rafael Nadal makes brutally honest admission about Saudi Arabia partnership & criticism

Rafael Nadal opened up about his partnership with Saudi Arabia to promote Tennis in that country. He faced some criticism as he chose to be an ambassador for the Saudi Tennis Federation back in January.

After retiring, the Spaniard dedicated his time to his family and his academy, the Rafa Nadal Academy. In addition to this, he opted to serve as an ambassador for the Saudi Tennis Federation to promote the sport and established an academy in that region.

The announcement of his latest partnership with Saudi didn’t sit well with everyone. Following the news, he faced backlash as several fans voiced their displeasure. Many highlighted the country’s controversial reputation regarding women’s rights, LGBTQ+ rights, and its alleged involvement in the 2018 killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi.

In a recent interview with The National, Rafael Nadal addressed the criticism saying he had faith in himself and his goal, what he aimed to achieve in Saudi.

“So I accept the critics, especially I respect the critics who criticise things while respecting other people. When they don’t respect, it’s a different story,” he said.

“But I really, in some way, at the end of the day, I know when I make the decision that’s going to be happening. But in some way I don’t care that much if I really achieve the goal that I want to achieve here. In the end it’s to improve the life, promoting sport in this country,” he added.

The Spaniard saw this as a chance to explore a new culture while also promoting tennis and inspiring the next generation of players.

“For me, it’s an opportunity, first of all, to know a different culture,” said Nadal

He further added:

“Second, to promote our sport in a region that is really growing in that regard.….I want to be remembered here, is as a person that is here to help the new generations to practise and play more and more tennis.”

"Everywhere you look in Saudi Arabia, you can see growth...I’m excited to be part of that" - Rafael Nadal

Rafael Nadal in Next Gen ATP Finals - Day 4 | Image Source: Getty

In a statement released in January 2024, Rafael Nadal shared his enthusiasm about the opportunity to promote tennis in the region, emphasizing its immense potential for growth.

“Everywhere you look in Saudi Arabia, you can see growth and progress and I’m excited to be part of that,” he said.

He also mentioned his goal of inspiring a passion for tennis among young people in the Arab world, recognizing their immense potential.

“But beyond playing I want to help the sport grow far and wide across the world and in Saudi there is real potential.”

Last week, he spent three days in Jeddah at King Abdullah Sports City, where he attended the Next Gen ATP Finals. During his visit, he participated in daily meet-and-greet sessions and worked with hundreds of kids in tennis clinics.