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Sergiy Stakhovsky is a former professional tennis player, who in 2013 famously knocked Roger Federer out of Wimbledon. But fast forward to today and having swapped his racket for a rifle, Sergiy’s life looks very different to most former professional athletes.

When Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Sergiy was on holiday in Dubai with his family celebrating his recent retirement from professional tennis after being defeated at the Australian Open. Instead of enjoying retirement, Sergiy packed a bag and headed home to defend his country.

Three years on and he’s still serving Ukraine. He describes his time on the frontline and how he is recovering from a recent bout of pneumonia.

(Photo: Ukrainian former tennis player and active serviceman Sergiy Stakhovsky with assault rifle during military training, May 2024)