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) as part of a long-term commitment to help grow the sport and inspire a new generation of athletes in Saudi Arabia.
Nadal will now look to accelerate the momentum which has been building across the entire tennis ecosystem from the grassroots up. In 2023 an estimated 30,000 school children took their first steps in tennis thanks to the ‘Tennis For All’ program, a unique partnership between the STF and Saudi Sports For All Federation, which saw tennis introduced to the physical education curriculum in 90 schools. Future plans are already in place to roll the program out in 200 schools in 2024 and 400 in 2025.
Today Saudi Arabia is home to 177 tennis clubs, up 146% since 2019. 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 also now holds 40 national tournaments annually – including hosting three ITF Juniors tournaments in the past year.
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.”
