“This Is Only a Drop in the Ocean”: Roger Federer Strives to Help the Needy During Current Coronavirus Crisis

The coronavirus pandemic has been hard on everybody. Tennis players have tried to shell out help during the tough period. Tennis legend, Roger Federer, through his foundation, also helped many families in Southern Africa and in Switzerland.

The Roger Federer foundation released its annual report for 2020 recently. Federer gave his raw response to the aspect of staying at home with family but worrying about the coronavirus.

“I enjoyed spending this intensive downtime with my family. But I looked worriedly at the development of the global infection numbers, missed the contact with my parents and friends, and observed with deep concern that people drifted into poverty or lost friends and family to the disease.”

Roger Federer’s donations during the coronavirus pandemic

Federer described his contribution as ‘only a drop in the ocean’. He donated close to $2 million in Africa and Switzerland, but the Swiss Master is keen to negate the negative consequences of the pandemic.

“To a certain extent, the foundation was able to help for the need created by the crisis. We financed a meal programme for over 100,000 children and families in southern Africa during school closings, and we initiated a family emergency fund in Switzerland. But I am aware that this is only a drop in the ocean. It will take a wave of solidarity to reverse the long-term negative consequences of the pandemic.”

Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal played in the ‘Match for Africa’

Roger Federer and his wife Mirka Federer first donated one million Swiss Francs to the families in Switzerland. Furthermore, Federer donated $1 million to feed families in Africa during the pandemic.

In February 2020, before the coronavirus sent the world into lockdown, Federer had also played a charity match alongside Rafael Nadal, Bill Gates, and Trevor Noah. That match set the record for the most attended tennis match in history.

“2020 was most probably an extraordinary year for all of us, characterised by complex emotions and new experiences. In February, I was able to play the unforgettable Match in Africa 6 in Cape Town, South Africa, and celebrate an exhilarating tennis festival with a record-breaking 51,954 fans for the benefit of the Foundation.”

Federer and various other players led the charge to help the needy during the pandemic. Through their various foundations, players donated millions and have pledged to do whatever they can to dilute the consequences of the virus.

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