Recently retired Ukrainian tennis player Sergiy Stakhovsky has opened up on his decision to join his homeland’s military reserves to fight against Russia, despite not having any military experience.
Stakhovsky retired from professional tennis after this year’s Australian Open. He once held a career-high singles ranking of world No.31 and beat Roger Federer in a thrilling showdown at Wimbledon in 2013.
Speaking to RSN Breakfast radio, Stakhovsky said his decision to retire from sport was easy compared to the choice to take up arms.
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“In terms of making the decision it was never easy,” he said.
“I have three kids, I have a wife which I love dearly and it wasn’t light, believe me. It wasn’t light and it wasn’t easy.
“I was in Ukraine a couple of days before it (Russia’s invasion of Ukraine) started. And yes there was a lot of tension, yes we understood that there might be something, but never in the back of my mind, none of us from Ukraine would ever have even considered that this was going to happen.
“It’s absolutely insane that in the 21st century that something like this might happen and for me it was either I try to prevail and help my country to survive, or I have no country to live in anymore.”
The 36-year-old is like many other Ukrainians travelling to Kyiv to join the fight. Whilst he has plenty of experience wielding a racquet, he has no previous military training.
“I’m not a soldier. I know how to use the guns but I have never shot anyone and I’ve never been in a gunfight,” Stakhovsky said.
“It’s not really something that I’m looking forward to but if it’s necessary I will do it.
“Only idiots are not scared during this time.”
Stakhovsky helped his wife and two small children to safety in Hungary before returning through the Sri Lankan border and driving 700km across the country to his posting.
He said he couldn’t imagine how his wife will ever forgive him and described the heartbreaking moment he told his three-year-old son he’ll “be right back”.
“Honestly now being in Kyiv; yes it is stressful, yes it is different but I honestly feel relief because I’ve seen the energy in the eyes of the people when I was crossing Ukraine,” he said.
Currently being housed in an arrangement similar to a base, Stakhovsky’s role is to transport vulnerable people such as children and the elderly to more areas including the border where they can be reunited with family.
He has heard tanks, airstrikes and distant explosions, but is yet to see a Russian soldier.
“So far I haven’t seen a Russian,” he said.
“I’m not sure whether I’m happy or not happy about it. If I would judge from the reaction of the people on the checkpoints across Ukraine, they are not happy that they haven’t seen a Russian.
“It almost looks like they want to see a Russian.”
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