Alexandr Dolgopolov was ranked as high as number 13 in the world and, among other things, reached the quarter-finals of the Australian Open in 2011 after knocking out Robin Söderling.
But now the reality is different for the 35-year-old.
In an interview with BBC he says about his new living situation and that he fears for his life.
– Now I fight for my country on the front line in Ukraine. The worst day was when grenade launchers landed on us. It was very intense and we had maybe 20 shots against us. They weren’t far away, he says.
Showing images
On social media, Dolgopolov displays several photos and videos from his experiences from the war. He is seen with weapons, drones and combat vehicles and shows video clips of battles.
– We haven’t had that many killed near us, but many have been injured. We hear a lot from other units about friends of friends dying. The longer it goes on, the more people die, he says.
Urges the outside world
Dolgopolov ended his tennis career in 2021. Among other things, he won three singles titles and one doubles in his career.
He calls on the world to do more for Ukraine.
– Is the outside world doing enough? I do not think so. We don’t get enough, not fast enough and not in large enough quantities. It’s a big war, and we need even more, he says.
2023-12-25 15:24:07
#tennis #star #fighting #front #Ukraine
