Tennis commentator Craig Shapiro recently revealed that Rafael Nadal’s academy has benefitted from the Spaniard’s ambassadorship deal with the Saudi Tennis Federation.
The state-owned tennis body of Saudi Arabia appointed Nadal as its ambassador in a bid to strengthen its presence in the sport. The announcement was made on January 15, 2024, just days after the 22-time Grand Slam champion announced his withdrawal from the Australian Open.
Notably, the Spaniard’s ownership of a team in the E1 World Championships has grabbed eyeballs following the announcement. The first grand prix of the E1 World Championships, which is an all-electric water boat racing competition, was held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, from February 2-3.
The Spaniard’s team, called Team Rafa, finished third in the standings after the conclusion of the first leg. Shapiro recently came across a fan question regarding the tennis icon’s probable motivation for being involved in the Jeddah racing event.
In response, Shapiro didn’t comment on the Spaniard’s association with the series but revealed that the financial gains he made from the Saudi Tennis Federation deal helped his academy get rid of ‘huge debt’
Apart from the 22-time Grand Slam champion, Tom Brady, Virat Kohli, and Didier Drogba are among the other notable sporting personalities who own an E1 team. The subsequent races will be held in Venice, Marbella, Monaco, Geneva, Rotterdam, and Hong Kong.
As an ambassador of the Saudi Tennis Federation (STF), Rafael Nadal would be responsible for mentoring budding champions of the Gulf nation. He is also set to establish a branch of Rafa Nadal Academy in the country. Currently, his academies are situated in Kuwait, Greece, Mexico, and his hometown of Manacor in Mallorca, Spain.
After taking over as the top representative of STF, the Spaniard expressed his excitement over the new role, saying:
