Nadal signs Saudi tennis deal as they continue assault on sport

Nadal wants to ‘help the sport grow far and wide’ after he was named as a Saudi Tennis Federation ambassador

Rafael Nadal has been accused of joining Saudi Arabia’s “relentless sportswashing operation” by becoming an ambassador for the country’s tennis federation.
Amnesty International urged Nadal to speak out about the Gulf state’s poor human rights record after it was announced he had signed a deal with the Saudi Tennis Federation (STF).
His was the latest high-profile signing for the STF, which hosted its first ATP event last year – the Next Gen Finals in Jeddah – and is expected to add the WTA Finals at the end of this season.
Peter Frankental, the economic affairs director of Amnesty International UK, said: “Rafa Nadal’s new role is just the latest chapter in Saudi Arabia’s relentless sportswashing operation.
“From tennis to football, golf and boxing, the 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.
“Under the rule of Mohammed bin Salman, the Saudi authorities have jailed dozens of peaceful activists, carried out record numbers of executions and brazenly covered up the grisly murder of Jamal Khashoggi.”
He added: “As with other sporting stars taking well-paid jobs in Saudi Arabia, we would urge Nadal to speak out about Saudi Arabia’s human rights record, offering an important message of solidarity with the country’s jailed human rights defenders.”
According to the STF, its deal with Nadal – who enjoys the biggest individual following of active players in tennis – will involve him spending time in Saudi Arabia every year to support “the development of boys and girls in the sport as well as grow further interest in tennis”.
There are also plans to build a Rafael Nadal Academy in the Gulf to match the one he has already opened in his hometown of Manacor.
“Everywhere you look in Saudi Arabia you can see growth and progress and I’m excited to be part of that,” said Nadal in a statement released by the STF. “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.”
Telegraph Sport reported last week that the Lawn Tennis Association had declined sponsorship from the Saudi Public Investment Fund for its flagship tournament at Queen’s Club. It seems likely, however, that other ATP events – including Miami and Madrid – will sign up.