Rafael Nadal received a lot of backlash after accepting an ambassador role for Saudi Arabian Tennis, but he has noble intentions, according to his uncle, Toni Nadal.
Saudi Arabia is making moves around tennis as the country hopes to develop itself as a tennis nation and just become part of the sport. According to various reports, they plan to invest a lot of money to bring the sport to the country through several events, and some moves have already been made.
They hosted the Next Gen ATP Finals last year and several exhibitions. Nadal and some other big names like Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz will be part of one of those exhibitions later this year.
That got all of them minor backlash, but the move that got the 22-time Grand Slam champion a lot of backlash was taking on the role of Saudi Arabian Tennis Federation ambassador.
The country needs to improve in various areas when it comes to treating citizens, and that is exactly why Nadal took on a role with them, at least according to his uncle Toni Nadal, who explained it in an interview with El Munda.
"My nephew was offered to try to get young people to do sports in that country. Rafa believes that what he can contribute can help change and improve society and the lives of many young people just as if he did it in Cuba or in Venezuela."
Even though many would point towards the money as the more compelling reason, the Spanish player's intentions may be more noble than many suggest.
Perhaps it turns out to be a great collaboration, and Nadal helps the country to develop not only in the world of tennis. However, his uncle isn't a fan of what he described as the hypocrisy among his critics.
"I think that today we live in an excessively hypocritical world. How do you help improve a country more, by boycotting Saudi Arabia or helping its young people?"
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