Novak Djokovic has offered financial and other assistance to Sergiy Stakhovsky, the former world number 31 from Ukraine, who has enrolled in his nation’s reserve army in the wake of Russia’s incursion of its neighbour. Despite a lack of military experience, Stakhovsky, who won four ATP titles and stunned Roger Federer in the second round of Wimbledon in 2013, entered Ukraine’s reserve army last month.
The 36-year-old shared a screenshot of a WhatsApp chat he had with Djokovic. In the chats, Serbian world number two inquired about his condition and expressed hope that things would calm down.
Nevertheless, in Novak Djokovic’s words, “Thinking of you … hope all calms down soon. Please let me know what would be the best address to send help … financial help, any other help as well.”
Stakhovsky posted on Instagram that Ukraine was grateful for Djokovic’s offer of support.
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However, several Ukrainian athletes, notably two-time Olympic boxing gold medalist Vasiliy Lomachenko and world heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk, have joined the fight to preserve their homeland. “I have three kids. I have a wife and a place to stay outside of Ukraine. So I cannot really justify exactly why I have done it. But home will always be where the heart is,” Stakhovsky told the ABC last week.
“I am just trying to support the army in any way I can, and I just felt the responsibility and the duty to my country to stand our ground I guess,” he concluded.
On the other hand, tennis players from Russia and Belarus will be allowed to participate in ATP and WTA tournaments and grand slam events, but they will be unable to compete under their respective nations’ names or flags.
