Nadal, nakakita ng ‘potensiyal’ sa Saudi Arabia nang lumagda siya bilang Tennis Ambassador
Rafael Nadal pulled out of the Australian Open with a muscle tear he picked up in Brisbane 10 days ago / Patrick HAMILTON / AFP
Pinangalanan bilang ambassador para sa Saudi Tennis Federation si Rafael Nadal, habang tinatarget ng Gulf kingdom na maging host ng mas marami pang professional tournaments.
Sinabi ng 37-anyos na Spanish player at winner ng 22 Grand Slams, “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. But beyond playing I want to help the sport grow far and wide across the world and in Saudi there is real potential.”
Si Nadal ay nakatakdang maging tampok sa nagpapatuloy na Australian Open, makaraang hindi makapaglaro simula nang magtamo ng hip injury sa 2023 edition.
Gayunman, matapos mapanalunan ang dalawa niyang opening matches sa warm-up event sa Brisbane, ay may napunit siyang muscle at napilitang huwag maglaro sa unang Grand Slam ng taon.
Una nang sinabi ni Nadal, “there was a ‘high percentage that 2024 would be my farewell to the tour.”
Ang anunsyo ay ginawa pagkatapos ng isang abalang 2023 para sa tennis sa Saudi Arabia, na naghost ng una nitong ATP Tour event — ang Next Gen ATP Finals sa Jeddah — at nagsara ng taon sa mga exhibition matches.
Kamakailan ay binisita ni Nadal ang isang junior tennis clinic sa Riyadh.
Ayon sa Saudi federation, “Nadal’s new role will involve ‘dedicated time in the kingdom each year’ to grow the sport as well as the development of a new Rafa Nadal Academy.”
Ang Sport ay isang pangunahing bahagi ng Vision 2030 reform agenda ni Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, na naglalayong gawing turismo at business hub ang Saudi Arabia habang inililipat ang pinakamalaking crude oil exporter sa mundo palayo sa fossil fuels.
Nahikayat ng Saudi Arabia ang football stars tulad nina Cristiano Ronaldo at Neymar na maglaro sa Saudi Pro League, nag-host ng heavyweight bouts at pinondohan ang upstart na LIV Golf tour para sa PGA Tour.
Ang Saudi ay siya ring napiling maging host ng 2034 World Cup.
Sinabi pa ng Saudi federation, “The five-year deal to bring the Next Gen ATP Finals to Jeddah ‘signals the country’s intent to make tennis a major part of its international calendar,’ and is the first of many likely professional tennis tournaments to be held in the country.”
