Rafael Nadal recently sparked discussions after receiving a lavish gift—a solid gold racket valued at £208,000—at the Six Kings Slam in Saudi Arabia, where he played in his penultimate tournament before retirement. Nadal, along with Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz, earned £1.15 million for participating in the event, which forms part of Saudi Arabia’s growing interest in global sports, including tennis, football, and golf.
Amid concerns of “sportswashing,” a term used to describe attempts by countries to improve their global image through sports, Nadal acknowledged the controversy. He emphasized that while he understands these concerns, he believes that events like these open up the country, allowing locals to experience different cultures. He noted that while players are paid to attend, their presence ultimately helps Saudi Arabia progress.
