Rafael Nadal is currently in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, attending the ATP Next Gen Finals. This visit marks his return to Saudi Arabia after participating in a significant exhibition event, the Six Kings Slam, in Riyadh this past October. That event featured several top players, including Novak Djokovic, Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, Holger Rune, and Daniil Medvedev.
During his time in Jeddah, Nadal was seen watching the semifinal match between Alex Michelsen and Learner Tien. Both young American players have impressed throughout the tournament, and their semifinal matchup guarantees that an American player will be in the final. The only Spanish player involved in the event is Martin Landaluce, who attended as an alternate but did not have the opportunity to compete.
This trip is part of Nadal’s transition to becoming a tennis ambassador as his playing career winds down. He interacted with several participants in the tournament, with highlights of these moments shared on ATP’s social media platforms.
Nadal’s visit also aligns with his growing role in Saudi Arabia, where he serves as the official tennis ambassador for the Saudi Tennis Federation. His appointment earlier in the year generated mixed reactions. While some praised his involvement, others criticized his association with Saudi Arabia due to the country’s controversial reputation, particularly in Western nations. Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) has been increasing its influence in tennis by hosting events and introducing changes, such as renaming the official ATP rankings as the “PIF Rankings.”
As part of his ambassadorship, Nadal has committed to developing tennis infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, including building an academy. This initiative follows his previous efforts in the Gulf region, where he established an academy in Kuwait and made frequent visits.
Nadal has acknowledged the criticism of his decision to partner with Saudi Arabia but has chosen to focus on promoting tennis and supporting the country’s modernization efforts. In January 2024, he expressed his optimism about Saudi Arabia’s growth, emphasizing his enthusiasm for contributing to the country’s development and its engagement wit
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