'Class act': Rafael Nadal praises Novak Djokovic after virus crisis gesture

Rafael Nadal has praised long-time rival Novak Djokovic after a selfless donation to his fundraising campaign to help those fighting the coronavirus pandemic.

Nadal started a fundraising campaign #NeustraMejorVictoria with NBA star Paul Gasol to help raise money for the CruzRojaResponde (Red Cross Responds).

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Nadal and Gasol have targeted raising 11 million euros ($20 million) in the nation that has suffered the second-highest total of coronavirus deaths.

“The Spanish people have never let us athletes down. We are what we are because of them,” said Nadal, a 19-time Grand Slam winner.

“We cannot let them down now,” said the World No.2 tennis player.

Djokovic has been helping out the fight in Serbia with his own donations, but now the World No.1 has reached to help with the plight in Spain.

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“A huge thanks to Novak Djokovic for the contribution to the #nuestramejorvictoria campaign helping those in need in the fight against Corona Virus. Class act Hvala Nole,” Nadal wrote.

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Nadal said he came up with the idea and called his fellow Spaniard and friend Gasol to help promote his drive.

More than 4000 people have died from coronavirus in Spain.

“Spanish athletes have always tried to make our nation proud, today we want to go beyond that,” said Gasol, a double NBA champion.

“We want to raise 11 million euros and help 1.34 million people, those hardest hit by coronavirus,” the 39-year-old centre said.

“My contribution and Rafa's too have already been made and I hope the whole of Spanish sport will rally behind us,” he said.

With AFP