Rafael Nadal, the 22-time Grand Slam tennis champion, has become the new team owner at the world’s first all-electric boat championship, organizers said Tuesday. Nadal will participate with his own team in the inaugural season of the UIM E1 World Championship, which is scheduled to begin later this year. The series is the brainchild of Alejandro Agag, founder of the electric Formula E and Extreme E motorsport and off-road series. Nadal follows a growing list of sports stars to own a team in the championship, including Red Bull Formula 1 driver Sergio Perez. “I’m really excited to be involved in a project like E1 that values sustainability and has a positive impact on society as a whole, especially coastal communities,” Nadal said in a statement. “I also like that E1 has a clear mission and is committed to protecting marine ecosystems. As a professional athlete, I understand that marginal gains have a positive impact on performance.” Nadal looks to defend his Australian Open title this month when the season opener begins on January 16
