After it was announced that Rafael Nadal would become a tennis ambassador for the Saudi Tennis Federation, tennis commentator Craig Shapiro stated the move benefited the Spaniard's Tennis Academy, which has been accruing a substantial amount of debt.
Nadal was appointed as ambassador by the Saudi Tennis body, as the nation attempts to strengthen it's presence in the global tennis community. The news was announced on January 15, 2024, days after the former World No.1 announced his withdrawal from the 2024 Australian Open.
The Spaniard owns a team in the E1 World Championships, an all-electric water boat racing competition, which was held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, from February 2-3. Nadal's team, called Team Rafa, finished third in the standings after the conclusion of the first leg. An inquisitive tennis fan suggested the tennis icon's motivation for being involved in the Jeddah racing event was related to his deal with the Saudi Tennis Federation, and Shapiro was quick to shed some light on the matter.
"Nadal is involved in something called E1 series in Jeddah. Must be his passion, I guess. Opinion," wrote a fan on social media.
"I was told they had huge debt on the academy and that got wiped out by the Saudi deal they did," responded Shapiro.
I would have loved to play in Doha, where the tournament team, as well as the amazing Qatar fans have always supported me greatly. Unfortunately I am not ready to compete and I won’t be able to come to Doha where I really wanted to be and play again after that unforgettable win…
