Alexandr Dolgopolov defends Ukraine: “Fire 20 shots at us”
Updated 18.34 | Published 18.32
In March 2022 and taught Alexandr Dolgopolov, 35, how to use weapons.
Today, the former tennis star fights at the front to defend Ukraine.
– The worst day was when shells landed quite close to us, he says BBC.
Alexandr Dolgopolov was an outstanding tennis player and reached a peak of 13th place in the world ranking.
Some of the Ukrainian’s absolute highlights were when he defeated Rafael Nadal on two occasions in the space of six months, in 2014 and 2015.
In 2021, Dolgopolov, who had a unique style of play with backhand slices and stop balls, ended his career due to a lingering wrist injury.
fullscreen Photo: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images
Joined the military in 2022
Today, the 35-year-old defends his homeland.
After Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, Dolgopolov received military training to learn how to use weapons.
He has since been deployed with the intelligence service in the Zaporizhzhia region, but is currently back in the capital, Kiev, awaiting his next assignment.
In an interview with British BBC says the ex-player about his new everyday life. Among other things, about how he feared for his life during a Russian attack.
– It has been tough on the battlefield over the past year. When they shoot and get really close, then you know they know roughly where you are. The worst day was when shells landed quite close to us, he says BBC.
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20 shots at him
Dolgopolov continues:
– Usually it’s random fire and if they see you they shoot two, three, five times and then stop if they don’t see what they’re aiming at. This time it got really intense and we had maybe 20 shots fired at us. They were all close.
The 35-year-old admits that he has seen several of his friends injured. Among other things, it was one of his own units who had his leg shattered during an attack.
– The longer it goes on, the more people die.
full screen Roger Federer and Alexandr Dolgopolov. Photo: Andy Wong/AP
2023-12-25 17:33:43
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