Ukraine's former tennis star Alexander Dolgapolo to fight against Russia, says country supreme

Ukrainian tennis star Dolgapolov said that sometimes I miss tennis but for me the security of the nation is paramount.

Dolgapolov reached the quarterfinals of the Australian Open in 2011. He took army training after Russia's attack on Ukraine in 2022.

‘’Sometimes I think about tennis and miss it, but whenever there is an attack by the Russian army, I remember only one duty, to somehow protect my country and my countrymen. I can contribute’’ he said.

Dolgapolov, who has defeated giants like Rafael Nadal, is now serving in the Ukrainian army and is fighting against Russia.

Dolgapolov, 35, was among thousands of Ukrainians who took military training to defend their country after Russia's invasion in March 2022. Dolgapolov learned to use weapons during this time. The former tennis player is posted in the Intelligence Directorate (GUR) of Ukraine. Currently he is in the capital Kiev and waiting for his next assignment.

Dolgapolov told that I have seen many of my colleagues dying in this war. He said, I was also afraid of losing my life. He said, last year was very difficult, when the enemy army would fire and come closer to us, our hearts would tremble after hearing the noise wondering whose life was going to be lost. But gradually I got used to it. Dolgapolov said, the longer this war continues, the more people will die.

The former tennis player said, I don't think we are getting enough support from other countries. He said, we need weapons and equipment to win this war, the truth is that at present our financial condition is not that good. Russia seems to be in a much better position than us. This is a big war and we need a lot too. I think the West needs to understand that this is not just Ukraine's problem.