Rafael Nadal believes there’s large scope to develop tennis in Saudi Arabia after he was unveiled as an envoy for the nation’s federation. Nonetheless, ladies’s world No.1 Iga Swiatek has hinted at issues amongst gamers over probably taking the sport there.
Rafael Nadal is out of the Australian Open.Credit score: Getty Photographs
In a daring public relations transfer, the Saudi Tennis Federation mentioned 22-times main winner Nadal would “spend devoted time within the Kingdom annually to assist nurture and plan the event of girls and boys within the sport in addition to develop additional curiosity in tennis amongst the nation’s younger inhabitants”.
4-time main winner Iga Swiatek mentioned gamers had been ready on a call concerning the location of the season-ending WTA Finals and WTA chairman Steve Simon mentioned final yr that Saudi Arabia nonetheless poses “large points” as a number for occasions.
“We’re nonetheless ready for the choice. It was at all times arduous for me to say if it’s good or not as a result of it’s not straightforward for girls in these areas,” mentioned Swiatek. “Clearly these nations additionally wish to change and enhance politically and sociologically. It’s not straightforward to determine.”
“There have been rumours about sportswashing. In my case, as a result of I’ve nothing to do with Rafa and his selections, it ought to be as much as the federations and the governing our bodies who determine if we’re going to play there or not. If there could be some damaging backlash, they need to take the accountability.”
The lads’s ATP Tour mentioned in August its Subsequent Gen Finals for under-21 gamers could be held in Jeddah for 5 years till 2027.
Saudi Arabia additionally hosted high-profile exhibition matches final yr with Novak Djokovic enjoying Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka taking up Ons Jabeur.
Nadal, who missed the Australian Open after pulling out with a hamstring damage, mentioned he needed to see “development and progress” in Saudi Arabia.
“In a latest go to I noticed the curiosity in each features and I wish to be a part of that function of rising the game of tennis all over the world,” he mentioned.“The children wish to the long run and I noticed they’re obsessed with sports activities … I wish to encourage them to choose up a racket and revel in the advantages of a wholesome residing.”
The WTA mentioned no resolution had been made concerning the WTA Finals, scheduled for November.
“As with all WTA selections, we’re working carefully with gamers and targeted on persevering with to construct a robust future for girls’s tennis.“
In a column for this masthead, written earlier this month, former Australian Open match director Paul McNamee mentioned he anticipated a serious Saudi occasion to be someplace on the tennis calendar quickly, and referred to as on Tennis Australia to stare down the problem.
However Australian Open boss Craig Tiley beforehand informed this masthead that any potential Saudi Masters occasion sooner or later wouldn’t interrupt the Australian summer time. He added that he was supportive of Saudi funding, so long as it didn’t negatively influence long-standing companions.
