Rafael Nadal
has been blasted by a former Ukraine tennis star, who is now fighting
to protect his homeland after the Spaniard described
Wimbledon's ban on
Russian players as 'unfair'.
Sergiy Stakhovsky, who ranked as high as 31 in the world and once knocked Roger Federer out of the competition in SW19, responded passionately to Nadal on Twitter. Stakhovsky retired from the sport in January and following the Russian invasion of his homeland he joined the Ukraine army and took up arms to defend his country. He recently gave an interview describing the horrors he has seen in the war.
Nadal said:
"I think it's very unfair on my Russian colleagues. In the sense it's not their fault what's happening in this moment with the war. In that sense, talking about colleagues, I'm sorry for them. I wish it was not this way."
Stakhovsky responded:
"Rafael Nadal 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?"
