Novak Djokovic has personally reached out to a recently retired Ukrainian player after Russia launched an offensive against his country to offer his support.
The 20-time Grand Slam champion contacted former world No.31 Sergiy Stakhovsky who has returned to his home country following the outbreak of the conflict. Stakhovsky, who is best known for beating Roger Federer at Wimbledon in 2013, has no previous military experience but knows how to use a gun. He is now in the capital of Kyiv helping patrol the street as Russian forces edge nearer to the city.
“We’ve had the basics explained and when it comes to shooting test rounds they said ‘don’t worry, you will have plenty of targets to shoot at,” the 36-year-old replied when asked about what training he had received during an interview with Sky News.
Stakhovsky had previously said that Djokovic is the only member of the Big Three who has contacted him. On March 3rd he told La Stampa that he had reached out to both Federer and Rafael Nadal but they hadn’t replied to him.
On Sunday he published a screenshot of what Djokovic said to him. During their exchange, he offered his support and pledged to send financial help to his former rival should he require any.
Djokovic has not spoken publicly about the conflict between Ukraine and Russia with the subject dividing many in his home country of Serbia. On Saturday, Reuters News Agency reported that an estimated 4000 people in Belgrade took part in a march supporting Russia. On the first day of the Russian invasion a local tabloid published the headline ‘Ukraine attacked Russia!.”
On the other hand, there have also been protests against Russia in the country. Serbia also voted in favour of a motion condemning Russia’s military actions at the United Nations, but has decided against placing sanctions on the country. The country has offered humanitarian aid and will accept refugees from Ukraine.
On Saturday the The U.N. The human rights office confirmed the deaths of 351 civilians in Ukraine and another 707 were injured between Feb. 24 and midnight Friday.
