Rafael Nadal has addressed ‘sportswashing’ concerns after he accepted a £208,000 gold racket from exhibition tournament organisers in Saudi Arabia.

The Spaniard is due to retire after November’s Davis Cup Finals having enjoyed a remarkable 23-year-career.

GettyNadal was given the item as a token of appreciation for his long career in tennis[/caption]

His appearance at the Six Kings Slam in Riyadh thus marked his final tournament, but one.

Earlier this week, it was revealed that Nadal had become an ambassador for the Saudi Tennis Federation – alongside existing ambassadors Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz.

As the announcement was made, Nadal explained how his decision was motivated by a desire to spread passion for his sport.

He 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 38-year-old was then part of a stellar line-up for the Saudi Arabian Six Kings Slam, a tournament that was held for the first time this year.

He was handed a tidy sum of £1.15m just for competing in the event, despite only playing in a first round match.

World number one and the eventual tournament winner Jannik Sinner, meanwhile, received a jaw-dropping £4.6m.

But that was not the only thing that Nadal walked away from the tournament with.

Paying tribute to the Spaniard’s career and honouring him ahead of his retirement, the 22-time Grand Slam winner was gifted a solid gold tennis racket by the Saudis at the Six Kings Slam.

GettyThe King of Clay has addressed the idea that his role amounts to sportswashing[/caption]

He states that he merely wants to do good by expanding tennis’ reach around the worldGetty

According to Spanish outlet Marca, it weighs around 3kg and is worth no less than £208,000.

Saudi Arabia are currently in the process of making greater moves into the tennis industry, having already done so in the worlds of football and golf.

However, Nadal was quick to address concerns over ‘sportswashing’ after the tournament, given that critics have accused the region of using sports to overwrite a negative human rights record.

“I say one thing that is simple, and that is that I understand the controversy,” Nadal told Spanish publication AS.

“What happens is that there comes a certain moment when you can be in one place or another, based on your opinion. I respect all opinions, as long as mine are also respected.”

He went on: “Do they pay me to come here? Yes. But we must not lose perspective. You come here and what do you think? Are you doing good or bad?

“Because the only problem in the end is that you get paid for it. Because, really, by coming here, you help the country.

“Let’s not kid ourselves, people call it sportswashing and of course there is a part of that.

“But the other part is that really thanks to all of that, people who have been locked up in this country and have not been able to see a different world, thanks to all the tourists who are coming, to all the events that are taking place here throughout the year, see another world, other cultures, and they have the ability to really move forward.

“So, I don’t have the slightest doubt that the people who come to do events here, from any field, do good for the country.”