JEDDAH, December 11, 2025 (Media Release)
Tennis legend and sports icon Rafael Nadal returns to Saudi Arabia next week, with the Spanish superstar set to be in Jeddah for the 2025 Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF to lead coaching clinics, meet players and fans, and play his part in inspiring more people into tennis.
The record 14-time French Open champion, and Saudi Tennis Federation (STF) ambassador, thrilled fans and players alike at last year’s Next Gen ATP Finals, engaging in a number of activities which furthered his commitment to growing Saudi tennis at all levels.
As well as casting his eye over the action at King Abdullah Sports City, Nadal took part in meet and greets at the event’s fan zone, attended a prize giving ceremony at an U14 ATF tournament, and ran a clay-court coaching clinic for young Saudi tennis hopefuls at The Racquet Space club.
He also visited the Onyx Arena to meet the 21-and-under competitors taking part in the first wheelchair tennis event held in Saudi Arabia and met with Team Saudi’s Davis Cup players to pass on some of his vast knowledge.
There was still time for the 22-time Grand Slam champion to sit with three of the Next Gen ATP Finals stars – Alex Michelsen, Jakub Menšík and João Fonseca, who would go on to win the trophy.
Nadal’s interactions this year will include another meet and greet in King Abdullah Sports City’s fan zone on 19 December, and the all-time great is determined to keep contributing to the growth and improvement of Saudi tennis.
“Coming back to Jeddah for the Next Gen ATP Finals is something I am looking forward to. I’ve been given the warmest of welcomes in Saudi Arabia and I feel there is a real energy for tennis,” said Nadal.
“As I have been saying, it’s my goal to help inspire the next generation, in Saudi Arabia and around the world. Working together with the STF to develop the huge potential of tennis in the Kingdom that has already made impressive progress is one key element. The reason for me to come back is to see the development at all levels and to help towards that goal. I’m very proud to help more kids pick up a racquet, compete, or simply discover something new that they love.”
Nadal’s role as an ambassador for the STF is part of broader ambitions to inspire more people to play tennis in Saudi Arabia. Since his appointment in January 2024, great strides have been taken across the Saudi tennis ecosystem; the prestigious, season-ending WTA Finals presented by PIF have relocated to Riyadh until 2026 as part of a three-year deal, while in October it was announced that an ATP Masters 1000 event will be held in Saudi from 2028.
In addition to hosting elite-level tournaments and welcoming the biggest stars to the Kingdom, the STF hosted a record 77 local tournaments in 2024, and there are presently an all-time high 82 Saudi players who hold an international ranking.
At the grassroots level, mass participation is a key focus, with initiatives such as the ‘Tennis for All’ program, in partnership with ‘Sports for All’, introducing tennis for a further 53,000 children in 2025 alone, while female participation has increased by 24% just since the inaugural WTA Finals Riyadh 12 months ago.
Held from December 17 to 21, the Next Gen ATP Finals are contested by the eight leading male singles players aged 20 and under. Players are drawn into two groups of four and compete in a round-robin format, with the top two advancing to the knockout semi-finals.
Rising American star Learner Tien is the highest-ranked player going into this year’s event and returns to Jeddah having the reached the final of the 2024 tournament. He will be joined by Belgium’s Alexander Blockx, Croatian Dino Prižmić, Spain’s Martin Landaluce, Norwegian Nicolai Budkov Kjær, Nishesh Basavareddy of the United States, Spaniard Rafael Jodar, and Germany’s Justin Engel.
For more information and to book tickets, visit webook.com.
