Rafael Nadal signed a multi-million dollar deal to become the new ambassador for the Saudi Tennis Federation (FTS) on Monday.
Nadal’s appointment as the ambassador is part of Saudi’s long-term plan to promote tennis in the country so they could inspire a new generation of athletes in the Kingdom.
“Everywhere you look in Saudi Arabia, you can see growth and progress and I’m excited to be part of that. I continue to play tennis as I love the game,” Nadal said in an official statement released by the STF.
“But beyond playing I want to help the sport grow far and wide across the world and in Saudi there is real potential. The kids here today are looking to the future and have a real passion for all sports. If I can help them pick up a racquet or simply get fit and enjoy the benefits of healthy living, then I’ll be happy to have made a difference.”
Saudi Arabia has spent a lot on sports in recent years and a living example of that is the rapid growth of football in the country as some of the biggest stars like Cristiano Ronaldo, and Karim Benzema opting to play in the Saudi Pro League.
Now, the Kingdom aims to switch their focus to other sports, notably Tennis, and the appointment of the 22-time Grand Slam winner is a big step in that direction.
Earlier, it was reported that Nadal may come back sooner than anyone would have thought as the Spaniard may appear on the court as early as mid-February, according to a tennis pundit, Laura Robson.
Nadal made his long-awaited comeback at the Brisbane International this month after a 12-month-long absence but he suffered a new injury that forced him to withdraw from the Australian Open.
After the Spaniard’s latest injury, there were speculations that the 22-time Grand Slam winner may call time on his illustrious career due to never-ending injuries, but that is not going to happen as he is eager to return to the court as early as possible.
