This Ukrainian tennis star returned to his homeland in order to fight the war against Russia. This tennis player didn’t even inform his family that he was back in the country as he didn’t want them to worry.
“I was born here, my grandparents are buried here, and I would like to have a history to tell to my kids,” he said. “Nobody here wants Russia to free them, they have freedom and democracy … and Russia wants to bring despair and poverty,” said Sergiy Stakhovsky
“It’s impossible to make that call without hesitation. I have a wife and three kids,” he said. “If I would stay home, I’d feel guilt that I didn’t come back (to Ukraine), and now I’m here, I feel guilty that I left them at home.”
His wife also is struggling with his decision, he said.
“Of course, she was mad,” he said. “She understood the reason for me, but for her it was a betrayal. And I totally understand why she feels that way.”
He said they haven’t told their kids, all under age 7, who likely believe he’s at a tennis tournament.
“My wife didn’t tell them and I didn’t tell them … where I’m going,” he said. “I guess they’ll figure it out soon.”
The war has seen many Ukrainian athletes join the army to fight the war and stand against Russia. Athletes from MMA, Boxing and now Tennis have all joined in on the fight.