His response was immediate!
And she is scathing.
Former Ukrainian tennis player Sergiy Stakhovsky did not appreciate - to put it mildly - Rafael Nadal's comments on the situation of Russian and Belarusian tennis players who were banned - by Wimbledon officials - from taking part in the next London tournament due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
“How is what is happening at the moment, the war, their fault?
declared, in a press conference during the Masters 1000 in Madrid, the man with 21 Grand Slam titles.
I really feel sorry for them.
It's very unfair for them but unfortunately (…) what happens in our sport is almost irrelevant when there are so many people dying and suffering.
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A statement yet impartial - and concerning only the fate of tennis players - but which does not pass for Sergiy Stakhovsky.
The latter therefore responded - by questioning Nadal directly - on his twitter feed on Monday.
“We played together… We competed on the circuit.
Please tell me how fair it is that Ukrainian players can't go home?
How is it fair that Ukrainian children cannot play tennis?
How is it fair that Ukrainians are dying?
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@RafaelNadal we competed together.. we've played each other on tour.
Please tell me how it is fair that Ukrainian players cannot return home?
How it is fair that Ukrainian kids cannot play tennis?
How is it fair that Ukrainians are dying?
https://t.co/l3bZtBEfsU
— Sergiy Stakhovsky (@Stako_tennis) May 2, 2022
Retired from the circuit, the former world number 31 in 2010 had decided to leave his wife, his three young children aged 4, 6 and 8 and his London cocoon in February to join the reserve army in Ukraine and contribute to the war effort in his native country.
Since then, he has been helping civilian populations in kyiv.
“I facilitate the evacuation of children, grandparents.
We also communicate with different territories and set up cooperation.
In the end, I do what I am asked to do, ”he explained recently in an interview with Tout le sport magazine.
Despite the situation on the spot, Sergiy Stakhovsky is omnipresent on social networks where he challenges his former opponents on the circuit and the sports world.
Without denying or calling into question the drama that the Ukrainians are going through, other tennis players spoke at the Madrid tournament about the situation of their Russian and Belarusian counterparts.
The latest is former Big 4 member Andy Murray.
"My view is that it's an incredibly complex situation," said the 34-year-old Scotsman.
I spoke to some Russian players, some Ukrainians.
I feel really bad for the players who are not allowed to play and I understand that seems unfair to them.
But I also know people who work at Wimbledon and I know how difficult a situation they were in (…).
I think the advice from the government was not helpful, as I understand that Russians and Belarusians can play if they sign a statement that they are against the war and against the Russian regime.
If Wimbledon, tennis or sports are in this situation, it is because there is a war in Ukraine and people are being murdered and raped.
That's the biggest problem.
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