Sergiy Stakhovsky news: Former tennis star announces he has taken up arms against Russia
Sergiy Stakhovsky has announced that he has taken up arms as his home nation of Ukraine fights off a Rusian invasion. Stakhovsky retired from professional tennis earlier this year following the conclusion of the Australian Open.
Russian President Vladmir Putin announced two weeks ago that he would be deploying troops into Ukraine. This has created a humanitarian crisis with many people having had to flee their homes and in worst case scenarios, be killed. The ongoing conflict has also shattered peace across Europe and caused many countries and sporting bodies to sever ties with Russia.
Ukraine have encouraged all male citizens aged 18-60 to assist with the nation’s military efforts to thwart off the Russian invasion, a factor which likely encouraged Stakhovsky to assist.
Sergio Stakhovsky news: Ukrainian former player has enlisted in the reserve army
Stakhovsky has had to leave his young family to assist his country. He recently revealed that he cannot tell his children the truth about his current whereabouts.
“We have four to seven times a day airstrike alarms so we need to go down,” Stakhovsky said to GB News Presenter Mark Dolan. “Some of those alarms we ignore, even though we shouldn’t.
“I do have a weapon – I’ll stand my ground by any means necessary.
“I still have family here as well. My brother and my father are with my grandmother who couldn’t leave, so I came to see them as well.
“There is no right choice in my situation. If I stayed home I would feel guilt because I left my father and my brother behind.”
After turning professional in 2003, Stakhovsky went on to have a 19-year long career. One of his career highlights was beating Roger Federer at the 2013 edition of Wimbledon. He achieved a career high ranking of 31 in September 2010 and at the time of his retirement was ranked 219.
Stakhovsky won four singles and four doubles titles in his near two decades long professional career.
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