WTA Players Save Serves … and Lives

By Richard Diaz
Love of Sports Correspondent

Tennis isn’t the most popular sport in town, nor are the athletes who play it widely known.

While the majority of professional tennis players lack a mainstream following, they’re still earning the kind of money typically associated with high-end athletes. Although that didn’t come as a surprise, I was caught off guard by the impact some of these athletes have while not playing.

Moreover, it was interesting to see how various Latin American players have taken the art of “social responsibility” to another level.

For instance, prominent Latin American players such as Argentina’s David Nalbandian and Carlos Berlocq, Chile’s Fernando Gonzalez, Brazil’s retired Gustavo “Guga” Kuerten and Ecuador’s Nicolas Lapentti, have all taken on the role of part-time philanthropists by investing part of their earnings and time in charity work for their native countries.

In addition to these Latin American players, Spaniard Rafael Nadal also partakes in similar efforts.

Nalbandian’s launched the David Nalbandian Foundation, a non-profit organization which strives for the social integration of people with disabilities through programs and projects geared towards health and sports. During the launch of his foundation, Nalbandian stated to “have long supported causes in my native town, Unquillo, and always wanted to start a foundation of my own. Today, I can say it’s a dream come true. I want to help special people that most need it.”

Each of the aforementioned stars has gone out of their way to create an organization or foundation with the idea of sports as a vehicle for good. Guga developed the Gustavo Kuerten Institute, which develops educational and sports-related projects for people with disabilities.

Even Berlocq, who’s not super wealthy, holds tennis clinics and donates money to the Chascomus Athletic Club.

The Rafa Nadal Foundation strives to provide “social assistance and cooperation for the development and promotion of sports as an integration tool for the members of society who are most in need, with special attention to children.”

So, while tennis players are a bit less popular in these here parts, we’re here to give up some big time love for them, and for all athletes, who aren’t afraid to fight for a cause.