Spanish tennis superstar Rafael Nadal announced on Monday a partnership with Saudi Arabia’s tennis body, representing another victory for the kingdom as it seeks to become a major player in the sport.
Nadal is now an “Ambassador of the Federation." Per the partnership, he will help develop an academy in Saudi Arabia, the official Saudi Press Agency reported.
In a post on X, Nadal said he recently visited Saudi Arabia and was inspired by young tennis athletes there.
“For me, the goal is to promote tennis all around the country,” said Nadal in a video he posted to the platform.
The video additionally featured Saudi Arabia’s top women’s player, Yara al-Hogbani, who said meeting Nadal “felt surreal not only for me [but] for all the young kids in the kingdom.”
Reactions: Nadal’s move was criticized by some tennis fans on social media for partnering with Saudi Arabia given the kingdom’s human rights record. One user referred to the kingdom as an "awful regime" and lamented Nadal's new partnership.
Saudi Arabia is an awful regime that violates human rights in some of the worst ways imaginable (Google it if you’re unfamiliar). They’ve poured a ton of money into sports to rehabilitate their image. I’m sure Rafa has good intentions, but this isn’t great. https://t.co/pRvUAJ3cuk
— Owen (@tennisnation) January 15, 2024
Saudi Arabia is regularly accused of sportswashing its international image through investment in major sports, the idea being that pouring money into popular sports will distract from the kingdom's poor reputation regarding human rights.
"Rafa Nadal’s new role is just the latest chapter in Saudi Arabia’s relentless sportswashing operation,” Peter Frankental, the economic affairs director of Amnesty International UK, told The Telegraph on Tuesday. “Saudi authorities have spent billions in their efforts to rebrand the country as a sporting superpower and deflect attention from an appalling human rights record."
Other tennis fans on social media accused Nadal, who has won more than $130 million in prize money over his career, of selling out to Saudi Arabia for money.
Many Rafa fans appears shocked and saddened that Nadal has taken a huge pay cheque to become the Ambassador of Tennis of Saudi Arabia.
— Pavvy G (@pavyg) January 16, 2024
I think it's a bit harsh, do these fans not realise how expensive it is to keep his £6m custom made super Yacht with spa pool afloat? https://t.co/8JoZxNBrwR
Some of Nadal’s fellow tennis players were more supportive. When asked about Nadal’s move on Wednesday, former world No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki said that Saudi investment in the game is “inevitable.”
“Obviously, Saudi [Arabia] is coming into sports in a very strong way. I think both in golf and football and now in tennis,” said Wozniacki following her Australian Open loss, according to Agence France-Presse. “I think it's inevitable that that's going to happen, and I think when that does happen, I think we have a chance to make a change and do something good there.”
Why it matters: Saudi Arabia is seeking greater involvement in both men's and women’s professional tennis as part of its sports push. Last week, Tunisian tennis star Ons Jabeur revealed a partnership with the Saudi fitness brand Kayanee. In December 2023, Saudi Arabia hosted the Next Gen Finals tournament for young male players and will continue to host it through 2027.
Saudi investment funds are also reportedly interested in purchasing the Miami Open and the Madrid Open tournaments, and the Women’s Tennis Association is considering holding its end-year tournament in Riyadh.
Saudi entities are investing in a variety of sports, including golf, soccer and mixed martial arts in addition to tennis, as part of a diversification push away from oil dependence.
The tennis community is mixed on the prospect of more Saudi involvement. Jabeur has expressed support, saying “I’m 100% there” last July when asked about Saudi investment in the game.
Other big names in the professional tennis world are opposed. In a letter to WTA leadership published by Sports Illustrated on Tuesday, retired champions Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert slammed the prospect of Saudi Arabia hosting WTA events.
"Not only is this a country where women are not seen as equal, it is a country which criminalizes the LGBTQ community. A country whose long-term record on human rights and basic freedoms has been a matter of international concern for decades,” wrote the duo.
Same-sex relations are prohibited under Saudi law, though these laws are not always enforced and the kingdom has moved to welcome LGBTQ tourists recently.
The women’s rights situation in Saudi Arabia has improved somewhat in recent years. Women finally gained the right to drive in 2018, and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman curbed the power of the religious police, allowing women to show their hair in public.
Some restrictions on women remain, however. For example, under Saudi Arabia’s Personal Status Law, only men have the right to unconditional divorce, according to Amnesty International.
