Former Ukrainian tennis pro Sergei Stakhovsky has welcomed the exclusion of Russian and Belarusian players from Wimbledon.
“Wimbledon showed, and it always has been, that it’s bigger than all the players. Wimbledon unites, I would say, aristocracy and morality. That’s why I’m happy with the decision that Russian and Belarusian professionals were excluded,” Stakhovsky said Interview of the Süddeutsche Zeitung”.
Stachowski, who sensationally defeated superstar Roger Federer in the second round in 2013, is currently in his home in Kyiv and is collecting aid for his compatriots in a voluntary organization. He will not notice anything from the lawn classic in London, “I only read the results from time to time,” said the 36-year-old.
Stachowski reiterated that Russians should be “banned at every level” in sports. “If they were all in Russia then, maybe they would understand: something has to change,” said Stachowski. “I wish the tennis and sports community would realize: more needs to happen! Banning Russian athletes is not against the athletes. It’s against the system.”
Spain’s tennis star Rafael Nadal had previously described the Wimbledon exclusion of Russian players as “unfair”. “It’s very unfair to my colleagues. What can the poor do for it?” The record Grand Slam winner said recently. World number one Novak Djokovic also criticized the exclusion of Russian and Belarusian professionals. Among others, world number one Daniil Medvedev is affected by the exclusion.