Federer To NYC Nurse: ‘You Are The Hero’

Ask tennis fans to name a hero and Roger Federer will be at the top of the list. But the Swiss star recently took time to thank heroes from a more important field: frontline healthcare workers risking their lives to help others during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Christianne Calderon is a nurse practitioner at New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center, where she has been on the frontlines battling against the coronavirus. ESPN recently gathered some of the world’s best athletes, who gave their thanks to Calderon, including Federer.

“You are the hero.” ?

The moment @rogerfederer surprised a health worker in New York with a message of support!

?: @ESPNtenis #COVID19pic.twitter.com/C31KidJbO3

— ATP Tour (@atptour) May 15, 2020

“Oh my God!” Calderon said when she saw Federer appear on a screen. “I’m shaking.”

Federer is in Switzerland, but he wanted to make sure Calderon and other healthcare workers like her know that they have fans throughout the world.

“People think we are superheroes, we the athletes,” Federer said. “But we think the same about somebody like you Christianne, you are the hero because you actually do save lives, you actually do make that difference.”