The 33-year-old announced on his social media accounts Wednesday that he’s taking up arms in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv to defend his country against the ongoing Russian invasion.
“This is my home, and we will defend it! With all the people that stayed,” Dolgopolov wrote in message shared on Instagram. “Big thanks and respect to all our famous people on the grounds. Lots of respect and I am proud, how united the country is, under such pressure of a crazy dictator.”
Shortly after, Dolgopolov shared a picture on Twitter of a bulletproof vest, a rifle and a helmet, alongside other weapons: “Used to be rackets and strings, now this.”
Dolgopolov, who retired from professional tennis in 2021, revealed that he fled to Turkey with his mother and sister one day before the Russian invasion began over the fear that a “big war” was on the horizon. He said he started “practicing shooting” in Turkey and was trained by an ex “professional soldier” for about a week.
“I’m not Rambo in a week, but quite comfortable with the weapons, and can hit (a target) 3 out of 5 times, from 25 meters in a calm, practiced environment,” he said.
He said he’s returned to the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv with others after stocking up on ammunition in Zagreb, Croatia: “Truth is behind us and this is our land! I will stay in Kiev until our victory and after.”
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Dolgopolov made his ATP Tour debut in 2006. He reached the quarterfinals of the 2011 Australian Open, his best showing at a Grand Slam, and reached a career-high ranking of No. 13 in January 2012. He retired from the sport in May 2021 after sustaining a right wrist injury.
Dolgopolov is the latest Ukrainian athlete that has vowed to fight for Ukraine. Hall of Fame boxers Vitali Klitschko, the mayor of Kyiv, and Wladimir Klitschko said they “don’t have another choice” but to fight. Ukrainian tennis player Sergiy Stakhovsky has done the same.
