By now, we are all sure what amazing tennis players Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic are. With countless titles under their belt and their iron-fisted dominance over the sport in the last decade or so, these three maestros sit at the pinnacle of tennis legends. Though, it may be quite a far shot to say that these are the only reasons that define their greatness. Yes, being an amazing tennis player is surely a part of it, but, there are so many other reasons to laud these three legends of the sport. Each one has individually contributed immensely to society in ways of charity and forming non-profit organizations to aid people in need and those who are underprivileged.
Roger Federer’s foundation
The Roger Federer Foundation is a charitable foundation that partners with numerous local organizations to alleviate the plight of numerous children across Africa and Switzerland. The Foundation’s basic vision is to see that every child gets educated regardless of their financial background or social status. Generally, when a foundation is set up by a single party, it is based on a single motive of the person. But in the RF Foundation, they see to cover most of the problems of the people with one long term solution: Education. Roger was only 22 when he founded this organization back in 2003. Since then they have come a long way spending nearly 28.5 million francs (about 26 million euros) (as of 2017) in aid of children. Roger also famously has teamed up with compatriots and good friends Rafael Nadal, John Isner and notable personalities like Bill Gates to play exhibition matches to raise money for the cause. The Fed Express sure does not slow down outside the court.
Rafa Nadal Foundation
Just like the RF Foundation, Rafael Nadal too started his own Rafa Nadal Foundation or Fundación Rafa Nadal. Its aims are as broad and well-meaning as the rest of them; they aim to provide individual help and assist children in achieving their dreams regardless of their financial capabilities. They aim to free children of the shackles of social stigma and are striving to help every child throughout the world. As of now, the Rafa Nadal Foundation has 21 centres located in India and Spain, with over 900 direct beneficiaries affiliated and over 5000 children cared for. It is surely a massive undertaking by the world number 2.
The Novak Djokovic Foundation
And last but most definitely not the least, the current world number one, Novak Djokovic’s endeavours to help those around him and aid those who need it the most. The Novak Djokovic Foundation, or NDF as it is better known, strives to give equal opportunities to children in Serbia (Novak’s home) mainly in the form of quality pre-school education. As the Serb said in his open letter, “I grew up in a country historically torn by different conflicts, but, nevertheless, a country where children still dream big…Let us believe in their dreams!”. Thus, he continues to believe in every child in Serbia and has completed great strides to help them. As the numbers speak for themselves, his foundation has built 43 schools, supported 980 families and all in all helped 20,708 children. With his wife and co-founder, Jelena, Novak strives harder to help and give back to the society that gave him so much.
Though the top 3 ranks in the world right now play some of the most entertaining and mind-boggling tennis and achieve unreachable heights in the sport, it is not only these reasons that make them such great people on and off the court. It is their humble nature and philanthropic deeds that really make them stand out on the world stage as men to look up to and heroes to emulate.