Ukrainian tennis hero Sergiy Stakhovsky has taken aim at Rafa Nadal after the Spaniard declared it was “unfair” for Russian and Belarusian players to be banned from Wimbledon.
Speaking at the Madrid Open on Sunday, Nadal said he didn’t think it was right that Wimbledon had banned Russian and Belarusian players from competing due to Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.
“I think it’s very unfair on my Russian tennis mates, my colleagues,” Nadal said.
“It’s not their fault what’s happening in this moment with the war. I’m sorry for them.
“Wimbledon just took their decision … the government didn’t force them to do it.
“Let’s see what happens in the next weeks, if the players will take some kind of decision in that regard.”
While Nadal’s comments echoed those of fellow greats Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray, they went down like a lead balloon with Stakhovsky.
The 36-year-old took to Twitter to express his disdain with Nadal’s comments.
“Rafa, we competed together. We’ve played each other on Tour. Please tell me how it is fair that Ukrainian players cannot return home?” he wrote.
“How it is fair that Ukrainian kids cannot play tennis? How is it fair that Ukrainians are dying?”
