“Are you kidding me?” Days before Rafael Nadal took the Saudi deal, John McEnroe labeled the project as a ‘joke’

Rafael Nadal becomes ambassador for the Saudi Tennis Federation despite criticism.

“Are you kidding me?” Days before Rafael Nadal took the Saudi deal, John McEnroe labeled the project as a ‘joke’

John McEnroe and Rafael Nadal (Image via: Imago)

American legend John McEnroe has labeled the rumors of Saudi Arabia hosting the 2024 WTA Finals as a joke just days before Rafael Nadal signs a deal with the Middle Eastern country.

Last year, it was announced that Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, had signed a robust deal with the ATP Next Gen Finals, making them host from 2023 to 2027, and the latest rumors about another likely deal with the WTA Finals organizers have caused a stir among tennis icons. 

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Furthermore, there are also rumors that the Middle-East money-weight is looking to buy the Miami Open and Madrid Open this year.

John McEnroe was critical of reports that Saudi Arabia is looking to purchase some tennis tournaments; he also claimed it wasn’t new for governments and businesses all around the world. 

Personally, I disagree with it completely, with the golf and the tennis. The ladies are going to play the WTA Finals there? Are you kidding me? Because they treat women so well? That part is to me laughable.
He said on an ESPN call last week via AU Sports

Over the last five years, Saudi Arabia has invested in the likes of Soccer, Formula One, Golf, and now Tennis.

Even with the recent heavy criticism from legends and players all stating that the sovereign wealth fund of Saudi Arabia has been used to engage in sportwashing its human rights record, that has not hampered the speed at which they have recorded deals and endorsed tournaments in sport.

At the same time, which is also laughable, is the people that can criticize tennis players or golfers for doing something that virtually every business and the government do, which is deal with Saudi Arabia. This idea that tennis players have to set the moral standard, or golfers for that matter, when they're all making the money, it's a total joke as far as I'm concerned. We'll see what happens.
Continuing further, he added

However, a few days after John McEnroe’s criticism of the Arab country, Rafael Nadal signed a lucrative deal to become the ambassador of the Saudi Tennis Federation, a move many have described as an ‘assault on the tennis world’.

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Rafael Nadal becomes ambassador for the Saudi Tennis Federation despite criticism

Saudi Arabia has extended its power base in sports after the recent announcement that Rafael Nadal is their new ambassador for the Saudi Tennis Federation.

This comes after a few months of signing a lucrative deal with ATP Next Gen to host the tournament from 2023 to 2027.

Rafael Nadal
Rafael Nadal (Image via: Imago)

Even with heavy criticism, it has influenced the likes of Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, Iga Swiatek, and Ons Jabeur to come to play in an exhibition game.

Recently, the Telegraph Sport reported that the Lawn Tennis Association had declined a sponsorship deal from the Saudi Public Investment Fund for their flagship tournaments at Queen’s Club.

Rafael Nadal becomes the new addition to the legends the Middle East country has signed with; in football, the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar have made them more famous than ever.

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