Rafael Nadal is set to return to Jeddah for the 2025 Next Gen ATP Finals. The tennis legend will be at the ATP's season-ending exhibition event for players aged 20 and under, as he announced his next role to help the next generation in Saudi Arabia.Nadal, who retired from professional tennis after the 2024 Davis Cup Finals, remains connected to sport through various ambassadorial roles. According to the official ATP website, Rafael Nadal will be in several events scheduled during the 2025 Next Gen ATP Finals in Jeddah, starting on December 17.Rafael Nadal is an ambassador for the Saudi Tennis Federation and was in Jeddah during the last edition of the Next Gen ATP Finals. In a press release published by ATP, the 22-time Grand Slam winner confirmed his plans to return to Jeddah for the event.“Coming back to Jeddah for the Next Gen ATP Finals is something I am looking forward to,” Rafael Nadal said, via ATP Tour. “I’ve been given the warmest of welcomes in Saudi Arabia and I feel there is a real energy for tennis."The 39-year-old also said that he would work with the Saudi Tennis Federation to develop and inspire the next generation of players in Saudi Arabia.“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 [Saudi Tennis Federation] 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,” Rafael Nadal added.The Next Gen ATP Finals presented by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund was founded in 2017. The first five editions took place in Milan, Italy, before the organizers shifted the event to Jeddah in 2023. It offers a staggering $2.2 million prize money, but is not part of ATP's official event calendar and points system.Rafael Nadal hilariously announces that he will not be at 2026 Australian OpenRafael Nadal announced that he underwent hand surgery on Friday, December 12, but with a twist. The 2009 and 2022 Australian Open winner jokingly added that he won't be able to play at the 2026 edition due to surgery.The 39-year-old shared a picture on X and wrote:"Looks like I won’t be able to play the @AustralianOpen 2026 😂. I had to undergo hand surgery because of an issue I’d been dealing with for a long time, but I hope to be fine soon!"After his Next Gen ATP Finals duties, the Spaniard was expected to return to Melbourne for the pre-tournament event at the 2026 Australian Open next month. Though Rafael Nadal suffered heartbreak at Melbourne Park in 2023 and 2024, he famously stunned Daniil Medvedev to win the 2022 Australian Open final.Meanwhile, the first major of the next season to feature an inaugural opening ceremony event, "Battle of the World No.1s", will be at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne Park. The event will take place on January 17, the night before the main draw matches, and will feature former top-ranked players Roger Federer, Andre Agassi, Patrick Rafter, and Lleyton Hewitt.