Rafael Nadal has linked up with his friend and NBA star Pau Gasol to encourage Spanish athletes to raise €11million to help in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.
On Wednesday, Spain became the second worst-hit country in the world behind Italy with nearly 4,100 deaths.
While the number of confirmed cases in the county has surpassed 56,100.
The Spanish government has approved a bill to extend the state of emergency until April 11.
But there has been a glimmer of hope as the rate of deaths has slowed for the first time in a week.
With the country on lockdown, Nadal is at his home in Porto Cristo, unable to practise and instead working on his physical conditioning.
And in a bid to help raise money for the Red Cross, Nadal posted a video on social media, calling for sportsmen and sportswomen to join them.
He said: “Honestly, I have been at home for a few days thinking about how can I help and contribute my grain of sand in this situation that is totally new for everyone.
“After giving it a lot of thought I came to the conclusion that you, the Spanish people, have never failed this country’s athletes. We are who we are, in large part, thanks to your support and now is the moment when athletes cannot fail.”
“We must help families in need quickly and unbureaucratically.
“Mirka and I have donated one million Swiss Francs to a newly established emergency assistance fund for families in Switzerland.
“The fund is managed by “Winterhilfe”, a trusted partner of our foundation and highly experienced to support vulnerable people for decades.
“From tomorrow March 26, the “Fund for families in need” will be functional and ready to make contributions such as vouchers for food and child care services and where necessary.”
