Ukrainian ex-tennis star hits back at Rafael Nadal over Wimbledon ban comments

Tennis icon Rafael Nadal has been heavily criticised by a former Ukrainian player over his recent comments regarding Wimbledon’s ban on Russian and Belurusian players.

Following a rib injury, the Spaniard will return to tour on Wednesday to compete in the Madrid Open - his first event since losing to Taylor Fritz in the Indian Wells final in March. While speaking with reporters ahead of his opening match in the his country's capital, the 35-year-old expressed his opinion on the controversial decision made by the All England Club.

“It’s unfair for my Russian colleagues,” he said. “In that sense it’s not their fault what’s happening in this moment with the war. I’m sorry for them. I wish it was not this way, but at the end of the day we know that this is what we have.” This prompted an angry response from Ukrainian Sergiy Stakhovsky, who bit back at Nadal’s comments in defence of his people and country.

“@rafaelnadal we competed together.. we’ve played each other on tour. Please tell me how it is fair that Ukrainian players cannot return home?,” the former world number 31 tweeted. “How it is fair that Ukrainian kids cannot ply tennis? How is it fair that Ukrainians are dying?”

Ukraine continues to remain under siege from Russian forces, who resumed their shelling of a steel plant in the city of Mariupol on Sunday, immediately after the partial evacuation of civilians. As many as 100,000 people may still be in war-torn port city, including an estimated 2,000 Ukrainian fighters underneath the Azovstal steel plant.

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