ATP: Great gesture! Youngster Mikael Ymer donates prize money to children

Mikael Ymer made positive headlines after his appearance at the ATP tournament in Gstaad. The 19-year-old decided to donate his prize money to disadvantaged children.

Early practice. In the case of Mikael Ymer in a particularly positive way. The 19-year-old Swede made a great appearance in Bastad, clinched his fifth victory on the ATP tour and continues to improve his form curve.

Despite the second round defeat against the later tournament winner Fabio Fognini, the appearance in Bastad is a complete success – and a gesture of Ymer all the more.

On tournament Sunday, the up-and-coming talent announced that he would donate all of the prize money he had raised at the Bastad tournament to children in need in Ethiopia.

But that’s not all: Ymer also asked the population to donate to help bring the children closer to sport and to take them away from poverty.

“Tennis means everything to me and I can’t describe how much it has had a positive effect on my life. I want to give others the opportunity to feel the same joy and to learn lessons for life. I have decided to donate my prize money to children in Ethiopia. My family and I are committed to them,” Ymer explained in an interview during the tournament.

The 19-year-old has a clear idea of how he wants to help the children: “We want to build a tennis court and give the children the opportunity to participate in the sport.

Ymer’s sponsors Adidas and Babolat will support the youngster’s project. The two companies will send sportswear and tennis equipment in the form of rackets, balls and much more to Ethiopia to play their part.

Anyone could write Ymer an e-mail and he would personally take care of the fundraising, the Swede continued. Ymer sent the most important message: “100 percent of the donations will also reach the children, and I will take care of that personally. No amount is too small!”