Ukraine tennis icon Sergiy Stakhovsky gives emotional interview as he vows to fight Russia

Former Ukrainian tennis star Sergiy Stakhovsky has revealed he has signed up to join his country’s military reserves to fight against Russia in an emotional interview about the war in his homeland.

Russian President Vladimir Putin launched an invasion of neighbouring Ukraine on Thursday and the battle has now reached capital city Kyiv, with Ukrainian military fighting off several attacks on Saturday morning.

Stakhovsky, who reached a world ranking of 31 as a player and famously knocked Roger Federer out of Wimbledon in 2013, has no previous military experience but feels obligated to help defend his country.

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Asked if he would be prepared to take up arms and fight against Russia, an emotional Stakhovsky told Sky News: ‘Of course I would, that’s the only reason I’m coming back.

‘The army opened up the reserves and everybody who is willing to fight, to come in and collect the weapons and be part of the territorial resistance.

‘There’s plenty of people in them. I actually signed up for the reserves last week, last Saturday, I just didn’t have enough documents to sign the contract.

‘Now they have cancelled that procedure and basically everybody who is motivated enough can join.

‘I don’t have military experience but I do have gun experience privately. I don’t see the reason why the majority of our countrymen have to risk their lives to send their families away while I sit back.’

Stakhovsky also praised Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who has stayed in Kyiv and remains defiant against Russia, while the 36-year-old former tennis star