“Please let me know where I can send financial or other assistance,” the other world player Djokovic wrote at the moment, wishing the situation would calm down as soon as possible. Stachovsky responded that Ukraine is grateful to the winners of the 20 grand slams for the offer and support.
“Novak called me and was interested in our situation. We talked for a while and offered me help,” said Stachovsky, 36.
“I also tried to contact Roger (Federer) and Rafu (Nadal), but unfortunately they prefer peace. I understand them, it is not their war. Even so, we have the support of great personalities and I hope that it will last that way,” Stachovsky said.
Djokovic, 34, who could not defend his Australian Open title due to aversion to vaccinations, had to relinquish first place in the rankings to Russian Daniil Medvedev last week. The Serb spent a record 361 weeks as world number one.
At the end of February, Stachovsky left his family – his wife and three children – and from safe Hungary, where they currently live, went to Kiev to defend his hometown. He is one of the Ukrainian athletes who is ready to defend the country against the Russian invasion with weapons in hand, although he has no military experience.
“If I have to use a weapon for defense, I will do it,” said Stakhovsky, who often trained in Prostejov.
Former heavyweight professional world champion and Olympic boxing champion Vladimir Klitschko and his older brother Vitaly, who is mayor of Kiev, have also joined the active reserves.
“I am sorry that the world did not react with sanctions as early as 2014, when Russia annexed Crimea. If the current reaction came then, we would not have had such problems now,” Stachovsky said.
“If I stayed I wouldn’t forgive myself and now I cannot forgive myself..”
Sergiy Stakhovsky-
Ukrainian Tennis Player #UkraineRussiaWar #Ukraine #UkraineUnderAttack pic.twitter.com/9MO0E6t96b– nooshiana1 (@ Nooshiana1) March 3, 2022
My guarding angel .. pic.twitter.com/2m56KvgSRT
— Sergiy Stakhovsky (@Stako_tennis) March 6, 2022
Ukrainian Tennis Pro Sergiy Stakhovsky made the heartbreaking decision to leave his wife and children in Hungary to join the Ukrainian forces fighting against Russia. pic.twitter.com/VorVIsCUyO
— Good Morning Britain (@GMB) March 2, 2022
Ukrainian tennis player Stakhovsky about how he went to war and did not know what to say to his children. They stayed to watch cartoons, and Sergei went to protect them. pic.twitter.com/1Fj3yvQes8
– Aslan (@antiputler_news) March 3, 2022
