About one and a half months after the final match of Sergiy Stakhovsky‘s skilled tennis profession, the 36-year-old Ukrainian left his spouse and three younger kids in Hungary and went again to his birthplace to assist nonetheless he may throughout Russia’s invasion.
In January, Stakhovsky walked away from the game after shedding to American J.J. Wolf within the first spherical of qualifying for the Australian Open. Retirement didn’t go as deliberate. On February twenty fourth, Russia started attacking Ukraine. Within the wee hours of February twenty eighth, Stakhovsky arrived in Kyiv.
“I haven’t got the phrases to explain it. I’d by no means think about in my life that it will come to this, that I’d be in my dwelling metropolis patrolling in a hand-crafted vest, with a gun in my palms … I imply, 5 days earlier than the warfare was in Kyiv, and lots of people in American and British intelligence saying that Russia will invade, even then I used to be 100 per cent certain it is not going to occur. I stated there was no likelihood Russia brazenly would go into warfare, invade Ukraine – on what pretext? There is no such thing as a pretext for it. So I haven’t got to go far. I imply, I am nonetheless, you understand, lots of people are saying that they are waking up and hoping … it was only a unhealthy dream. However, you understand, on day 16, (that) does not work anymore.”
He has been there since, working with a department of the Ukraine armed forces that may solely be used inside town premises.
“I did not inform my youngsters. They’re pretty younger and I simply do not consider they might perceive the which means of warfare and I do not consider they might perceive any of it. My spouse knew … however she by no means requested a direct query and I by no means informed her immediately. So when the second comes … I informed her I am leaving, she began crying rather a lot. So there was not likely a dialog.”
Stakhovsky’s profession highlights included rising to a greatest ATP rating of No. 31 in 2010, reaching the third spherical of Grand Slam tournaments six occasions, and pulling off one of many largest upsets within the sport’s historical past when he ended Roger Federer’s report streak of 36 consecutive main quarterfinal appearances by beating him 6-7 (5), 7-6 (5), 7-5, 7-6 (5) within the second spherical at Wimbledon in 2013.
