Serhii Stakhovsky: "Most Russian tennis players passively support the war in Ukraine"

The former number one racket of Ukraine, Serhiy Stakhovskyi, who after the start of the full-scale invasion of Russia, joined the ranks of the Armed Forces, and later joined the SBU special unit "Alfa", spoke about the passive support of the war on the part of the majority of Russian tennis players.

Passive support for war

Stakhovsky believes that most Russian tennis players do not try to influence the situation, despite the fact that they have large platforms to express their position. According to him, they feel collegiality with those who remain silent and justify their inaction.

"The international community listens to Ukraine, but the athletes do not. In tennis, I feel that they have said quite clearly that they cannot influence this war. The athletes, unfortunately, feel collegiality with the same Muscovites. They say: ' Well, they can't change anything in this situation. And the question is that they didn't even try to change anything. Although they have millions of followers, platforms. But they are all that They don't use it. It's not that they're against the war. That's why, unfortunately, we have what we have."

  • admits the former tennis player.

Minimum sanctions from WTA and ATP

Stakhovsky also noted that the WTA and ATP do not exclude representatives of the aggressor countries from the competition, and they plan to participate in the Olympics. However, he admits that the only thing that makes him even a little happy is that Russian and Belarusian tennis players play without a flag and without a country.

"This is at least the minimum. And it is, in fact, unprecedented for the ATP and WTA to do something like this. But, unfortunately, no one will do more than this."

Stakhovsky emphasized.

Cases of condemnation of war

In the conversation with the tennis player, it was mentioned about the Russian tennis player Daria Kasatkina, who openly condemned the war. Stakhovsky noted that he spoke with other Russian players, such as Andriy Rublev, but their comments did not lead to significant changes.

"I talked with Rublev in my time and with everyone. But how did it end for Kasatkina? She is not going to the Olympics. Like Rublev, who partly said that this is bad, what is being done. Therefore, it did not turn into anything positive for people. Of course , those who are there now, they will not say that."

  • Stakhovsky is confident.

Position of Daria Kasatkina

Stakhovsky also drew attention to the fact that Kasatkina, who condemned the war and admitted to an unconventional orientation, was barred from entering Russia. He emphasized that she is the only Russian athlete who had the courage to express her position.

"And now, in principle, Kasatkina is not allowed to enter Russia, because, in addition to the fact that she said that she does not support this war and is ashamed of it, she also admitted that she has an unconventional orientation. And in the Russian Federation, this is a very difficult story Therefore, she is, in fact, the only athlete from Russia who has, as they say, balls."

Stakhovsky noted.

Editor: Emilia Morozova