"I just wanted to survive": The former tennis star fighting in the Ukraine war

Aleksandr Dolgopolov, former world No. 13, recently spoke about his participation in the war in Ukraine. The ex-tennis player reached the Australian Open quarterfinals, battled against Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic on multiple occasions, and even defeated Rafa Nadal.

However, his life changed the moment Russia, under Putin’s command, decided to invade Ukraine. A devoted patriot, he didn’t hesitate to drop his racket, pick up a gun, and head to the front lines. "My conscience pushed me, it told me: ‘You have to do it now.’ The only problem was that I had no idea about weapons. So I found the nearest shooting range in Antalya," the former tennis player revealed in an interview with Der Spiegel.

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Now working as a drone pilot, Dolgopolov described his daily reality to the German media outlet: "Basically, I’m happy to be able to defend my country, but I want nothing more than peace. I lack inner peace and a day without news of children, civilians, and comrades being killed."

He also recounted some of the tragic experiences he has endured: "In late summer 2023, my unit was in the Zaporizhzhia region. We were filming the terrain with a drone when we suddenly came under fire. We jumped into a trench, but the blasts kept getting closer, shaking us violently."

"You have to understand that if grenades of this size land within eight meters of you, they can rip your insides apart. In the end, all we could do was hope it wouldn’t hit us. We were terrified. After about 20 strikes, it stopped. It’s crazy when I think about it now." Following this incident, the former tennis player was hospitalized for a week with a concussion.

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Being on the battlefield constantly puts Dolgopolov face to face with death, though that’s not what he fears most: "To be honest, I’m more afraid of getting injured and having to live life as a cripple. If I could choose, I’d rather be dead."

Aleksandr has witnessed nearly 100 comrades die through his drone camera, giving him a new perspective on life and his future: "Right now, I just want to survive. When you see a friend’s leg blown off right in front of you, it gives you a whole new outlook on life. I wouldn’t wish this experience on anyone."

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