Rafa Nadal Sets New Target to Grow Tennis and Sport in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Tennis Federation Announces New Ambassador Role for Global Tennis Icon
Riyadh, 15th January 2024: Rafa Nadal, one of the greatest sporting figures and tennis players of all-time has become a new ambassador of the Saudi Tennis Federation (STF).
This is part of a long-term commitment to help grow the sport and inspire a new generation of athletes in Saudi Arabia.
Nadal announced as ambassador of the Saudi Tennis Federation to help grow the sport and inspire future stars
Rafael Nadal Becomes Ambassador for Saudi Tennis Federation
The new role is announced following a recent surprise visit to a junior tennis clinic in Riyadh hosted by the STF.
This will see the Spanish superstar spend dedicated time in the Kingdom each year to help nurture and plan the development of boys and girls in the sport, as well as grow further interest in tennis amongst the country’s young population.
Beyond encouraging tennis growth, plans are also being put in place to develop a new Rafa Nadal Academy to nurture talent and serve as a centre of excellence to help aspiring players fulfil their tennis dreams.
Rafa Nadal surprised young children at a tennis clinic in Riyadh last month
Rafael Nadal, who has won 22 Grand Slam men's singles titles to date, is set to support tennis in one of the fastest-growing countries in the world.
Sport is becoming an increasingly important part of daily life, especially for the Kingdom’s 20 million people aged under 30 years old.
Speaking on his new role as an ambassador to the Saudi Tennis Federation, Nadal said:
“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. 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.”
The superstar will spend time in the Kingdom each year to help grow the interest in tennis
Saudi Tennis Federation’s Vision 2030
Under Vision 2030, sports participation among men and women in Saudi Arabia has rapidly increased and is now close to 50%, more than tripling since 2015.
The number of sporting federations has also tripled during this time. The STA is a perfect example of the growth story underway.
One of the greatest male tennis players of all-time, Nadal will now look to accelerate the momentum that’s been building across the entire tennis ecosystem from the grassroots up.
Tennis For All
In 2023, an estimated 30,000 school children took their first steps in tennis thanks to the ‘Tennis For All’ programme, a unique partnership between the STF and the Saudi Sports For All Federation.
This saw tennis introduced to the physical education curriculum in 90 schools. Future plans are already in place to roll the programme out in 200 schools in 2024 and 400 in 2025.
Today, Saudi Arabia is home to 177 tennis clubs, up 146% since 2019.
L-R: Rafa Nadal, Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Saud (Minister of Sport) and Arij Mutabagani (President of the Saudi Tennis Federation)
In the last four years, the number of registered players has increased by 46% to 2,300 and under-14 players by 100% - from 500 to +1,000.
STF now holds 40 national tournaments annually – including hosting three ITF Juniors tournaments in the past year.
Saudi Tennis Federation President Arij Almutabagani added:
“Rafa embodies all the values we hold dear in a true champion on and off the court. He’s simply the ideal role model for our young boys and girls to look up to.
It’s clear Rafa lives the best version of himself every single day. His dedication to training, his commitment to every shot and the way he fights for every point are values we hope to instill in our own future stars. Not just to develop them as players but as people.
“Rafa transcends the sport of tennis and continues to inspire generations around the world. I’ve no doubt he will have the same impact on Saudi. We feel blessed to call him our ambassador and our young players can’t wait to work with him!”
Nadal and his coaching team are also set to develop a programme of values to inspire ‘Team Saudi’, the national teams that represent the Saudi Olympic & Paralympic Committees in international tournaments.
They will share their knowledge with all players and their coaches.
Sporting Events in Saudi Arabia
Under Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia's ongoing social and economic transformation, the country has become a welcoming host for some of the biggest global sports events.
Since 2018, the Kingdom has staged over 85 international events for both male and female athletes -including football, motorsports, tennis, equestrian, esports and golf.
These events were attended by over 2.6 million sports fans.
Rafa Nadal and Saudi's number one female player, Yara Alhogbani
The latest addition, the Next Gen ATP Finals, signals the country’s intent to make tennis a major part of its international calendar.
This is the first of many likely professional tennis tournaments to be held in the country, with Wimbledon winner Nadal now committed to supporting future events in an ambassadorial role.
Almutabagani continued:
“Yes, we want to host the world’s best to inspire and help our young people fall in love with the game. But looking ahead one day we also want to play alongside and compete against the world’s best male and female players.
We know it’s a long journey ahead but we’re investing in our children and committed for the long-term. And hopefully with Rafa’s support we’ll go along that journey a little bit faster and as a fit and healthy nation.”
About the Saudi Tennis Federation
STF’s Vision 2030 aims to foster a promising generation that can represent their country in international tennis competitions with honour.
We want to empower young men and women in the Kingdom to thrive in the sport of tennis through talent discovery and development programmes, hosting and organising international tournaments, and enhancing the infrastructure to position tennis as one of the main sports in Saudi Arabia.
Our goals are to develop training programmes that turn talented players into elite athletes and activate the system that supports the performance of these athletes.
We want to enhance the interest in tennis among young people and attract regional and international sports tourism by hosting major events.
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