spanish superstar Rafael Nadal has spoken about his ties to Saudi Arabia after being named ambassador to the country’s Tennis Federation last month.
“They pay me, yes, do I need the money? Not at all, it won’t change my life. I didn’t sign a great contract, like other athletes who are there and I totally respect them” , declared the former world number one. » I declared on Wednesday in an interview with the Spanish television channel La Sexta.
Nadal has agreed a long-term commitment with the Middle Eastern country to help grow the sport and inspire a new generation of tennis players and plans to establish a Rafa Nadal Academy in the country.
“My commitment is to promote tennis and try to achieve my goals. I don’t think Saudi Arabia needs me to wash its image. That’s not my goal. People tend to give their opinion without asking questions,” Nadal said.
“It goes without saying that when I accepted, I knew what was going to happen. I think my team made a communication error and I should have come out to explain it,” he added.
Saudi Arabia has invested billions in global sports, including soccer, cycling, auto racing and golf, drawing fierce criticism from people who see it as an attempt to distract from rights abuses of man committed in the country.
Nadal hopes to compete at Roland Garros and this year’s Olympics.
The 37-year-old has won 22 Grand Slam singles titles, including a record 14 crowns at Roland Garros.
“I don’t know what events I have left to play, but between you and me there won’t be many,” Nadal said.
“(Roland Garros) will be one of my goals,” he added when asked if he would participate in his favorite Grand Slam tournament in May.
“I would also like to participate in the Olympics. It’s not something I can confirm at the moment, but I hope I will… I think I will.”
Nadal, sidelined by injury for most of 2023, withdrew from next week’s Qatar Open on Wednesday, postponing his return to competitive tennis as he has not recovered from a tear muscle sustained in Brisbane last month.
