Rafael Nadal delights fans after landing in Jeddah for Next Gen ATP Finals

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Rafael Nadal meets fans after landing in Jeddah for the Next Gen ATP Finals. (Supplied)
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Rafael Nadal meets fans after landing in Jeddah for the Next Gen ATP Finals. (Supplied)
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Rafael Nadal meets fans after landing in Jeddah for the Next Gen ATP Finals. (Supplied)
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Rafael Nadal meets fans after landing in Jeddah for the Next Gen ATP Finals. (Supplied)
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Rafael Nadal meets fans after landing in Jeddah for the Next Gen ATP Finals. (Supplied)
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Updated 21 December 2024
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Rafael Nadal delights fans after landing in Jeddah for Next Gen ATP Finals

  • The Spanish tennis legend toured the old city of Al-Balad and greeted a massive crowd at King Abdullah Sports City

JEDDAH: Tennis superstar Rafael Nadal began his three-day visit on Friday to Jeddah, where he took a tour of Al-Balad and met players and fans at the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF.

The Spanish legend started his time in Jeddah by visiting Al-Balad and taking a tour of Jeddah Historic District before making his way to King Abdullah Sports City, where the Next Gen ATP Finals are being played.

Nadal led a meet-and-greet and attended a prize-giving ceremony at an U-14 ATF tournament, which was held at a stadium next to the main competition.

The 22-time Grand Slam champion met future stars of tennis competing in the Next Gen ATP Finals — Alex Michelsen, Jakub Mensik and Joao Fonseca — before thrilling the massive crowd in the fan zone, where he signed autographs and posed for selfies.

Nadal, who is working with the Saudi Tennis Federation to support its ambition of inspiring one million people to engage — from playing to administration — with tennis by 2030, continues his tour of Jeddah on Saturday by meeting Saudi Davis Cup players ahead of the semifinals of the Next Gen ATP Finals.


Mid East Falcons finish strong with victory over Arabia Wolves

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Mid East Falcons finish strong with victory over Arabia Wolves

  • Abu Dhabi franchise beat their Dubai counterparts 3-2 to finish the inaugural Baseball United season joint top with Mumbai Cobras

DUBAI: Five pitchers combined to complete a five-hit, two-run game, while Jake Hjelle and Federico Celli each drove in a run, to give the Mid East Falcons a 3-2 victory over the Arabia Wolves at Baseball United Ballpark on Sunday.

Left-handed starter Shotaro Kasahara worked for 3.0 IP, allowing only one hit, with three walks and one strikeout. Yunis Halim, who earned the victory, pitched two scoreless innings, with one walk.

Stephen Mufareh (1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER), Yudai Mizuchina (1.0 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 SO), Shotaro Nakata (1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 0 SO) and Yokohama Baystars prospect Haru Shoshioka, who earned the save (1.0 IP, 1 SO), completed the pitching line for Mid East.

As for the offense, Alejandro de Aza went 2-for-3 with one run scored and Federico Celli went 1-for-4 with one RBI. Celli reached nine RBIs in the last two games.

With this result, the Mid East Falcons finished the season tied 6-3 with the Mumbai Cobras in the final standings. Both will dispute the United Series starting on Dec. 12.

Other highlights:

Michael Robles went 1-for-3 with a triple and one RBI, as the standout performer in the Wolves’ offense.

Angelo Cabral took the loss, after 4.0 IP, where he allowed four hits, two earned runs, gave up one walk and struck out three.

Arabia allowed a total of 20 runs in this regular season final series, with only nine runs scored.

With this result, the Wolves ended with a 4-5 record.