Matteo Berrettini recently signed a deal with Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) to become its latest ambassador. However, shortly after the Italian confirmed the news, most tennis fans turned on him, citing Saudi Arabia's controversial human rights and women's rights records.In recent years, the PIF, in collaboration with Saudi Arabia's tennis federation has made significant money moves to bring tennis to the Middle Eastern nation. It has signed lucrative deals with both the ATP and WTA tours, and its work secured the country's capital, Riyadh, as the host city for the prestigious year-end WTA Finals from 2024 to 2026. The 2024 WTA Finals were held in November, with Coco Gauff clinching the title.Earlier this year, the legendary Rafael Nadal became Saudi Arabia's tennis federation's ambassador. The country also hosted the Six Kings Slam exhibition event in 2024, which featured Nadal alongside Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, Daniil Medvedev and Holger Rune.On Monday, December 9, former ATP World No. 6 and 2021 Wimbledon Championships runner-up Matteo Berrettini announced via an Instagram post that he is now a PIF ambassador, writing:"Proud to be a part of the PIF family and super excited about the year ahead! Lots to look forward to @publicinvestmentfund"Berrettini's post later surfaced on Reddit.Matteo Berrettini Becomes PIF Ambassador byu/jb99824 intennisMost fans were appalled at the development and vented their frustrations at the Italian."So one week he’s campaigning against violence against women and the next week he’s an ambassador for a country that regards women as the property of men?" a fan questioned."I guess he’s proud to be an ambassador of slave labor and beheadings," suggested another fan."Oh Matteo, what a shame. Wonder which part of the PIF he’s “proud” to be a part of, other than the money…," another chimed in."Would love to know how much he’s being paid so I can begin to understand this s**t because we all have a number," weighed in yet another fan.However, a few fans stood by Matteo Berrettini's decision and justified it by citing the examples of Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, who were handsomely rewarded for their participation in the Six Kings Slam."If Rafa, Djokovic, Sinner and Alcaraz will take their money, why the hell shouldn't Matteo at this point? That's the slippery slope of ethics. If none of those guys did, no way Matteo does this," one fan wrote."I wonder how many people clutching their pearls about this still followed the Six Kings exhibition and the WTA Final? How many of y'all still love Novak and Rafa to death when they do business with the Saudis and Qatar as well? The hypocrisy in this sub is wild," another added.Berrettini took part in an exhibition tournament in Saudi Arabia a couple of years ago, and during his brief stay in the country, he made himself available for an entertaining interview.Matteo Berrettini featured in a fun promotional interview for the Diriyah Tennis Cup in 2022Matteo Berrettini (Source: Getty)The 2022 Diriyah Tennis Cup in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, featured Matteo Berrettini as one of its star draws. Alexander Zverev, Taylor Fritz, Daniil Medvedev, Andrey Rublev, Hubert Hurkacz, Stan Wawrinka, Dominic Thiem, Nick Kyrgios, Cameron Norrie and Dominic Stricker also took part in the tournament. Fritz emerged triumphant at the event after defeating Medvedev in the final.The event's social media team shot a brief and fun interview featuring Berrettini. The interview revolved around the Italian having to choose from two options per question. One of the questions quizzed Berrettini about his favorite between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. The former World No. 6 picked Federer.Berrettini enjoyed a resurgent 2024 after enduring an injury-plagued 2023. The Italian won his eighth, ninth, and tenth ATP Tour-level titles this year, at the Grand Prix Hassan II, the Swiss Open in Gstaad, and the Generali Open Kitzbuhel. He also played a starring role for Italy in the country's 2024 Davis Cup Finals title triumph.