Statement on Wimbledon exclusion
Ukrainian ex-professional sharply attacks Nadal
5/2/2022, 8:37 p.m
Sergei Stachowski ended his tennis career in January and has been fighting the Russian invaders in his native Ukraine since February. Rafael Nadal’s sympathy for Russian professionals being banned from Wimbledon pisses him off.
The tennis pro Sergei Stachowski sharply criticized the Spanish tennis star Rafael Nadal after his statements about the Wimbledon exclusion of Russian players. Nadal had described the decision as “unfair” to his colleagues. Stachowski responded to the world number four’s statements via Twitter and wrote: “@RafaelNadal (…) Please tell me how is it fair that Ukrainian players cannot return to their homeland? How is it fair that Ukrainian children cannot Can play tennis? How is it fair for Ukrainians to die?”
On Sunday before the Masters 1000 category tournament in Madrid, Nadal had asked about the exclusion due to the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine: “What can the poor do about it?” The tennis professionals are not to blame “for what is happening”.
With “private weapons experience” to Kyiv
Novak Djokovic had previously criticized the exclusion of Belarusian and Russian professionals. “I think it’s just not fair, it’s not right, but it is what it is,” said the world number one. “It is now up to the players’ council or the organizers of the ATP Tour to decide together with the players what is the best solution in this situation,” Djokovic added. World number two Daniil Medvedev is also affected by the exclusion.
At the beginning of March, Djokovic got in touch with Stachowski to offer him financial support in the fight against the Russian invasion. For this he wrote to Stachowski in a WhatsApp conversation. The Ukrainian published this on Instagram. “Please let me know which address I can best send help to. Financial help, but also any other help…” Djokovic wrote to the 36-year-old, and said in another message: “Thinking of you… I hope everything calms down soon.”
A few days earlier, at the end of February and shortly after the Russian invasion, Stachowski had also declared that he wanted to fight for his homeland in the war. At Sky Sports, the four-time ATP singles title winner, who retired after the Australian Open in January, replied: “I signed up for the reserve last week. I have no military experience, but private weapons experience.” He then traveled to Kyiv.