“It was a moral obligation, I had to fight.” Those words define Sergiy Stakhovsky’s journey from professional tennis to the front lines of war. The Ukrainian former player, best known for ending Roger Federer’s 36-consecutive Grand Slam quarterfinal streak at Wimbledon in 2013, made a life-changing decision: he left his family and career behind to fight for his country against Russia. For three years, he has been in the middle of the conflict, transforming from an ATP player into a soldier.

Stakhovsky had built a respectable career as a tennis pro. He peaked at No. 31 in the world rankings and was consistently one of Ukraine’s top players. After retiring in early 2022 following a loss to J.J. Wolf in the Australian Open qualifiers, he planned to settle down in Budapest. He had a wife, Anfisa, three children, and a new venture—running a winery. His life seemed set for a peaceful next chapter. But in February 2022, everything changed.

While vacationing in Dubai, Stakhovsky heard about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Just one month into retirement, he decided to leave his family in Hungary and enlist as a reservist in the Ukrainian army. The choice came at a cost—his marriage fell apart, and he rarely sees his children. Still, he has never second-guessed his decision.

In a recent interview with French newspaper  ‘L’Equipe’ on March 10, Stakhovsky described his current life at the front. “Recently, my life on the front has changed a little. Now we have very short missions, 3/4 days. Then we return to Kiev, where we are based, and we leave again. I am not allowed to reveal exactly what we do, but it works well. It has a significant impact on the Russian economy, so it is a good sign.”

The 39-year-old arrived in Kyiv just days after the invasion began. He was handed a gun and assigned to a military unit. In the early weeks, he patrolled the streets and carried out support duties. One afternoon, while walking through central Kyiv, he realized how drastically life had changed—the streets were completely empty. The heaviest fighting was happening in the suburbs, where Russian forces attempted to break through. Stakhovsky’s parents lived close to the frontline; his mother fled, but his father, a doctor, stayed behind to treat patients. On visits to check on him, Stakhovsky heard artillery shells exploding on both sides of the house.

A few months later, Russian troops retreated, failing to take Kyiv. But the war was far from over.

Sergiy Stakhovsky continues to fight for his country

By March 2023, Sergiy Stakhovsky was deployed to Bakhmut, one of the most brutal battlegrounds of the war. Military experts argued that Bakhmut had little strategic value, but its symbolic importance kept both sides fighting for months. The city eventually fell to Russian forces. After his time there, Stakhovsky was promoted to a more elite unit.

Even after years on the front, his resolve remains unshaken. “Have I ever thought about giving up? No, never. Either you decide to do what is right and protect what is good, or you don’t at all. I divorced my ex-wife, I hardly ever see my three children (they are 6, 10 and 11 years old, ed.), just once every six months. They are not in Ukraine and it is very difficult for me to leave the country. They are old enough to know what I do, but they don’t really understand. I try to explain it to them, but they don’t understand why I do it. Am I ready to die? Yes, of course. Otherwise I wouldn’t be here.”

Technically, the ex-tennis player didn’t have to fight. Ukrainian law exempts fathers of three children from military service. But he refused to stay in safety while his country was at war. His decision to fight became a major strain on his personal life, leading to his estrangement from his wife.

During the first month of the war, he estimates he did around 150 interviews between patrols. But he didn’t just serve in the military—he also worked to raise money for Ukraine’s war effort. Splitting his time between Kyiv and Budapest, he attended charity events in Slovakia and Poland. He even made appearances at the French Open and U.S. Open to raise awareness.

Despite the ongoing war, Stakhovsky understands that the world moves on. “Do I have the feeling that the world has forgotten about the war? I wouldn’t say that the world forgets, rather it gets used to it. Everyone has their own life to live. You can’t live your life through the war in Ukraine, even though it is close and very important. I wouldn’t blame people for thinking about anything else.”

Just this week, the U.S. announced a pause in military aid to Ukraine following a tense Oval Office meeting between Presidents Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The future remains uncertain, but Sergiy Stakhovsky continues to fight. His journey from tennis to the battlefield is one of sacrifice and conviction. And for him, there is no turning back.