Rafael Nadal: 'Our team is doing a great job at Academy, taking care of all the kids'

World no. 2 Rafael Nadal has not played since winning the 85th ATP title in Acapulco at the end of February, with the coronavirus keeping the Spanish legend at home for almost two months now, like all the other players. Due to health reasons, Rafa had to close his Academy in the home town on Manacor, staying in touch with the Balearic Islands' Regional Ministry of Health and taking all the measures to keep the kids and staff safe within the Academy. The 19-time Major champion has been informing the parents regularly, assuring them their kids are safe and well at the Academy and doing his best to bring them on the tennis court as soon as possible. With the pandemic striking Spain like never in the past 100 years, Nadal has also helped the Red Cross in gathering money for the families that need help the most, leading other Spanish athletes together with his close friend Pau Gasol. 

"I am super proud of the work that my team is doing at the Academy. There are 70 workers and 85 kids inside the Academy since the beginning of the quarantine," Nadal said. "They are doing a great job while following the rules. I have been in touch with the coaches and kids, staying in touch with their parents as well. During these times, I think parents need to make sure that their children are safe and in the best possible hands. We can't stop working and we are doing everything to make sure this is happening. It has been a great conversation with the parents; I have just been letting them know that we are following the rules of the authorities, making sure the kids are safe and healthy. Even in these hard times, my foundation is still working; we are trying to keep helping the families. For example, in Palma, we are helping the families in terms of essential products, sending them food, hygienic products and just trying to be in touch and making sure we can cover the things that they need.

We are sending school materials for the kids because they don't have the opportunity to keep working online from their homes. We are making sure they have the things that they need. It is something that I think is important during this very tough period. I am in touch with the people of the Red Cross; we started an initiative with Pau Gasol and it has been a significant success. I am happy that we are raising a lot of necessary money for the cause. I can't thank enough my colleagues for their support and not only the world of sport; everyone has been very positive and supportive about the project. I am super happy about that and we hope to keep encouraging the people to keep supporting all the initiatives, helping and trying to overcome this very tough situation."

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/3595oYW