Tennis
Exclusion of Russian and Belarusian athletes described as “unfair”: Now the Ukrainian ex-professional Stachowski criticizes tennis star Nadal
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Rafael Nadal describes the Wimbledon exclusion for Russian and Belarusian athletes as “unfair”. Ex-professional Sergej Stachowski is now turning to the Spaniard with critical questions.
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Sergei Stachowski (right) criticizes Rafael Nadal for describing the Wimbledon exclusion for Russian and Belarusian athletes as unfair.
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Sergey Stakhovsky was the best Ukrainian tennis player for years. He was number 31 in the world, won four tournaments. His sporting moment came in 2013 when he defeated defending champion Roger Federer in the second round at Wimbledon. The 36-year-old has now ended his career and swapped his tennis racket for a gun: the ex-professional is fighting alongside the military against the Russian invasion in his homeland.
Stachowski repeatedly expresses himself pointedly on his social channels. So also on Monday, when he criticized the Grand Slam record winner Rafael Nadal for his statements in the discussion about the Wimbledon exclusion of Russian players.
Nadal had described the decision as “unfair”. Stachowski then turned to Nadal directly via Twitter: “Please tell me, how is it fair that Ukrainian players cannot return to their homeland? How is it fair that Ukrainian children can’t play tennis? How is it fair for Ukrainians to die?”
@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 ply tennis? How is it fair that Ukrainians are dying ? https://t.co/l3bZtBEfsU
— Sergiy Stakhovsky (@Stako_tennis) May 2, 2022
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Nadal and Djokovic agree
Wimbledon bans tennis pros from Russia and Belarus over Russian invasion of Ukraine. Nadal has no understanding of this at all: “It’s very unfair to my colleagues. What can the poor do for it? »Said the 35-year-old world number four on Sunday before the Masters 1000 category tournament in Madrid. The professionals are not to blame “for what is happening”.
World number one Novak Djokovic also criticized the exclusion of Russian and Belarusian professionals. “I think it’s just not fair, it’s not right, but it is how it is,” said Djokovic. “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,” said Djokovic with a view to a Wimbledon rating for the world rankings.
Among others, the second in the world rankings, Daniil Medvedev, is affected by the exclusion. Olympic champion Alexander Zverev and the ATP and WTA player associations were also critical of the Wimbledon ban.(gav / dpa)
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