Rafa’s practicing in Riyadh for a SF match v Carlitos in Six Kings Slam today. 😍 I missed this sound of Rafa’s racket & his grunts. 🔥🔥 @RafaelNadal 🐐👑🏅 Credit to: #brokenrackets ig 📹
"Is the Six Kings Slam just sportwashing?" Nadal addresses Saudi Arabia controversy
ATPWednesday, 23 October 2024 at 20:30
Rafael Nadal opens up about the Six Kings Slam and tournaments in Saudi Arabia. The 22-time Grand Slam champion participated in the exhibition tournament, which offered the largest prize money ever for a champion ($6 million for Jannik Sinner) and another $1.5 million for the rest of the participants.
Expectations were high for Nadal, given that it was his penultimate appearance as a professional as he prepares for retirement at the Davis Cup Finals in a few weeks. The former world No. 1 was defeated by Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic, in what could be his last singles matches, as there are doubts about whether he will play singles or doubles in Malaga.
Nadal supports Saudi tournaments: "By coming here, we’re making a difference"
The Six Kings Slam was not exempt from criticism for being held in Saudi Arabia, a country that has been trying to attract the ATP and WTA Tours but has caused discontent among some in the tennis world due to reported human rights issues in the Arab nation.
In an interview with the Spanish newspaper AS, Nadal defended his relationship with Saudi Arabia, where he is an ambassador for the Saudi Tennis Federation. He also recently announced the new Rafa Nadal Academy branch in Kuwait. “What happens is that there comes a certain moment when you can be in one place or another, based on your opinion. I respect all opinions, as long as mine are also respected,” Nadal began.
“Do they pay me to come here? Yes. But we must not lose perspective. You come here and what do you think? Are you doing good or bad? Because the only problem, in the end, is that you get paid for it,” he said about his participation in the Six Kings Slam. “Because, really, by coming here, you help the country. And those who speak so harshly against the country, fine.
Nadal will play his last event at the Davis Cup finals in Malaga.
“So, what do you want? For them to continue being bad, to keep the country locked up, with more inequality? There is only one reality,” he added. “In the end, by coming here, we create events and attract tourists, something that wasn’t happening four or five years ago.
“Let’s not fool ourselves, people call it ‘sportwashing,’ and of course there is an element of that, but the other part is that thanks to all of this, people who were trapped in this country and couldn’t see a different world, thanks to all the tourists coming and all the events happening here throughout the year, they see another world, other cultures, and they can really progress.
“So, I have no doubt that people who come here to hold events, from any field, are doing good for the country,” Nadal stated. “Because things are not perfect, which they are not, I would have to say otherwise, obviously, they have a long way to go. Do we let them remain bad, or do we at least help them do some good? Because in the end, if you did that without getting paid, would we see it as good?
“Well, obviously, like many of my colleagues, like most governments in the world, like most companies, we are fortunate that we get paid to come here, no doubt, there’s no need to hide that,” added the 14-time French Open champion. “Here, they are still behind compared to the West. The thing is, our perspective is different from what they experience. In the end, they live it as they always have.
“Changes cannot happen 100% overnight, because society is not prepared for radical change. No society in history has been. This change has to happen gradually.
“I believe that everything happening in the country means that this change, instead of taking 50 or 60 years, will happen much faster. And I believe, in some way, despite all the criticism, it’s worth it, and I accept the criticism, I respect it.
“If in ten years, things are still bad or the country has shut down, then obviously I will say that I was misled,” Nadal told AS. “Now, the Next Gen Finals are coming, the women are coming to play the WTA Finals, and they are also earning significant money, obviously. And as for what I earn, when I return to Spain, I pay 60% in taxes, and that’s it. It’s not like I’m taking the money to another part of the world.
Rafa Nadal at the 2024 Olympic Games.
“I get paid to do a job, but I believe that it will really be a job worth doing. And yes, I’m in favor, without a doubt, unlike many who think otherwise, of the idea that just because things aren’t perfect, doesn’t mean all the citizens here should suffer, that things should get worse.
“That’s the other side of the argument, but I have a different perspective. If things aren’t perfect, but we help them improve and continuously make life better for the people here, then so be it,” he added. “I support tourism in this country, without a doubt, because in the end, when people come here, they see a different world that they’ve never seen in their life or in their past.
“This is my point of view. Afterward, everyone will have their own opinion. As always, I try to accept criticism as long as it’s within the bounds of respect. When respect is avoided, I obviously don’t share it.”
claps 0visitors 166
Just In
Popular News
Latest Comments
- Rybakina is back!!
mandoist21-12-2024 - She sems to have a turbulent relationship with The Truth. Not even smartenough to make an excuse like "I severely twisted my ankle yesterday" -- then be seen shopping in some city next day while "recuperating"!mandoist21-12-2024
- Why do you even publish this TwatCaster's PATHETIC stunt for attention? There's plenty of reasons why imbeciles like him are 'talking' and people like Iga Swiatek are 'walking the walk'. Tennisuptodate should be above this tripe.mandoist16-12-2024
- If and when Political Correctness and gullible hearts over-rule BIOLOGY, the Human world begins its already seeming decline.mandoist15-12-2024
- The new generation has arrived and these guys need to do it with the left overs.
AceOfBase13-12-2024 - Every young, inexperiend CEO has "better" ideas (and friends to hire).mandoist12-12-2024
- What a load of nonsense. Emotional stress definitely didn’t cause her wrist or ankle injuries.Lyca10-12-2024
- Taylor Fritz 🎾 – the surprising third for many. 🎄 A great Christmas tree quiz question! 🎅✨MrAndreeva10-12-2024
- Simona Halep taking the axe out 🪓😮💨MrAndreeva08-12-2024
- ITIA is literally a Secret Organization. Way past time for a neutral entity to oversee, if not guide, these Elitists within ITIA whom enjoy their ability to keep their "investigations" in a business as usual format behind closed doors!!mandoist08-12-2024
