Tennis againts Covid
As the Covid19 global pandemic was at its peak, sanitary restrictions and lockdowns paralysed international tennis. Still, the best ATP and WTA players found new ideas to help fight the disease. Roger Federer donated CHF1M to underprivileged families, while Rafael Nadal, Garbine Muguruza, Carla Suarez Navarro, and Paula Badosa used their social media to raise millions of euros for the Spanish Red Cross. Ons Jabeur auctioned the racket she used when she reached the 2021 Wimbledon quarterfinals and donated the €5,200 raised to Tunisian hospitals. In Poland, Iga Swiatek, Magda Linette, and former Wimbledon finalist Agnieszka Radwanska were the figureheads of the ‘Racquets for Coronavirus’ campaign which goal was to raise €100,000 to buy masks, gloves, and medical equipment for health-care providers across the country.
In Australia, Nick Kyrgios offered to the people in need to contact him on Instagram, and he would bring them all sorts of provisions. “If ANYONE is not working/not getting an income and runs out of food, or times are just tough… Please don’t go to sleep with an empty stomach. Don’t be afraid or embarrassed to send me a private message,” he posted on Instagram as he ranked World No. 45. “I will be more than happy to share whatever I have. Even just a box of noodles, a loaf of bread or milk. I will drop it off at your doorstep, no questions asked!” Kevin Anderson, the Williams sister, Naomi Osaka as well as many other big tennis players could not move as freely; so, they decided to do things differently. They grabbed their controllers and partnered with the likes of Steve Aoki, Seal, and Gigi Hadid to compete in a Mario Tennis Aces doubles charity tournament hosted by Nintendo. The tables looked like a real mixed Grand Slam tournament; the American pair formed by Taylor Fritz and influencer Addison Rae eventually snatched a virtual victory that brought an actual reward as they donated their $1M prize money to the No Kid Hungry association which fights child malnutrition in the USA.
