About a month and a half after the last match of Sergiy Stakhovsky’s tennis career, the 36-year-old Ukrainian left his wife and three young children in Hungary and returned to his homeland, wanting to help as much as possible during the invasion of Russia.

“I have no words to describe it. “I never thought it would be enough – that I would be in my hometown with a gun in my hand,” Stachowski said in a video interview on Saturday.Associated Press.

He said he was in a residential building in Kyiv, the besieged capital of Ukraine.

“Many people say they wake up and hope it ‘s just a bad dream. “But, you know, on day 16, it no longer works,” he said. The first days, (are) surreal.

“You do not believe it. And the next thing you realize, you get used to it and you just try to find a way to help your country survive. »

At the age of 12, thinking of a life in tennis, Stakhovsky began to split his time between Ukraine and the Czech Republic to improve his game.

He became a professional in 2003, winning four titles in singles and four titles in doubles and has won more than $ 5 million in cash prizes.

Highlights include climbing to No. 31 in the ATP in 2010, reaching the third round of the big six six times, and beating Roger Federer 6-7 (5), 7-6 (5), 7-5, 7 -6 (5) in the second round at Wimbledon, in 2013.

In January, Stakhovsky left the sport after losing to JJ Wolf at the Australian Open in the first round of qualifiers.

The retreat did not go as planned. On February 24, Russia launched an attack on Ukraine. In the early hours of February 28, Stakhovsky arrived in Kyiv.

“You are safe for a second. “Second, something is coming (from heaven) and no one is safe,” he said.

He said he had received hundreds of messages of support from the tennis world – players, coaches, officials – and named a few: Richard Gasquet, Lucas Pouille, Aljaz Bedene and Novak Djokovic, winner of 20 tennis tournaments. Grand Slam.

Through social media, Stakhovsky shared text messages he exchanged with the Serb.

Working with what he described as a branch of the Ukrainian Armed Forces that can only be used within the city – the unit is said to have been set up “a few years ago to support infrastructure in the event of war – which no one actually believed, but unfortunately did”. – Stakhovsky said that his days are divided into two-hour shifts, followed by a six-hour leave.

This “free” time, he said, is often spent on what he calls humanitarian efforts.

“I just try to do what I can 24/7,” Stachowski said. Because otherwise you will go crazy. »

He said he still has a family in Kyiv, including his grandmother, father and brother.

As for how long he will stay, Stachowski is not sure.

“I hope not for long,” he said. I hope it is resolved fairly quickly. »

Later this month, her daughter will be eight and a son will be four. the other son is six and a half years old.

He did not tell them where he was going – and why – before he left.

“They are quite young and I do not think they would understand the meaning of war. And I do not think they would understand anything. My wife knew … but she never asked the question directly, and I never told her directly.

When I told her “I’m leaving”, she started crying. “So there was no substantive discussion,” he said.

He said talking to his children has not been easier since then.

It’s difficult (…). Every time they ask “when will you be back” or “what are you doing”. I just say “I do not know, honestly”.

“It’s not a good decision for me to be here and it was not the right decision to stay home. None of this is fair, Stachowski said.

“But I am here because I believe that the future of my country – and the future of my children, and the future of Europe as we know it – is in great danger. And if I can do something to change the result, I will try to do it. »