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The attack by Russian forces on the territory of Ukraine sparked a war and President Vladimir Putin's main objective seems to be to take control of Kiev as soon as possible, a city whose mayor is former world boxing champion Vitali Kitschko.
Almost three weeks after the start of the war, the former pugilist is not the only person linked to the sport who joined the local army to resist Russian attacks. This list also includes his brother Wladimir Klitschko (also a boxer), Yuriy Vernydub (coach of Sheriff Tiraspol of Moldova), Andrei Tchmil (cycling) and Sergiy Stakhovsky (former 31st in the world in 2010 in the ATP ranking).
The last to join was Ukrainian tennis legend Andrei Medvedev, who became a finalist for Roland Garros in 1999 (he succumbed to the American Andre Agassi in the definition) and number 4 on the planet in 1994. The news was announced by Stakhovsky on his social networks.
“World tennis legend Andrei Medvedev remains in Kiev and is ready to face the enemy ✊🏻. I am incredibly pleased to see the captain of the Ukrainian national tennis team, Andriy Medvedev. Patriot of Ukraine 🙏🏻✊🏻👍🏻. #gloriaucrania #pensamiento together #juntos we will overcome many things,” he wrote on his Instagram account.
Medvedev knew how to make history within the sports arena and is a renowned athlete in his country. In 1999 he was on the verge of cherishing glory in the brick dust of Roland Garros. Although on his way he left level rivals such as the American Pete Sampras and the Brazilian Gustavo Kuerten, in the final he could not maintain the two-set advantage against Agassi. He eventually lost the match 1-6, 2-6, 6-4, 6-3 and 6-4.
However, who knew how to be the fourth on the planet in this discipline in May 1994 had an award-winning race on the circuit. Among his 11 titles are four ATP Masters 1000 (Hamburg, three times, and Monte Carlo). He also lifted the trophy on Long Island, New Haven, Barcelona, Estoril, Bordeaux, Stuttgart and Genoa.
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