Rafael Nadal is one of several stars branding the Wimbledon ban of Belarusians and Russians "unfair."
Recently retired Ukrainian pro Sergiy Stakhovsky says Nadal needs a reality check.
Nadal: Wimbledon Ban Unfair
Last month, Wimbledon announced it is banning Russian and Belarusian players from the 2022 Championships in condemnation of Russia's invasion of neighboring Ukraine. All England Club officials also said they do not want to give Russian President Vladimir Putin a potential propaganda platform on the game's greatest stage.
Asked about the Wimbledon ban in Madrid on Sunday, Nadal said he opposes it.
"I think it's very unfair of my Russian tennis mates, my colleagues," Nadal told the media in Madrid. "In that sense it's not their fault what's happening in this moment with the war. In that sense, well, talking about colleagues, I don't know what to say.
"I'm sorry for them. I wish it was not this way, but at the end of the day we know that this is what we have."
Former Ukrainian No. 1 Stakhovsky, who owns a Wimbledon win over Roger Federer, has returned to Kyiv to fight for Ukraine in its battle from the Russian invasion.
Stakhovsky said Nadal should be thinking about fairness for Ukrainians under attack in their homeland.
Addressing the king of clay directly on Twitter, Stakhovsky posed a series of questions to Nadal.
"Rafael Nadal we competed together... we’ve played each other on tour," Stakhovsky wrote. "Please tell me how it is fair that Ukrainian players cannot return home?
"How it is fair that Ukrainian kids cannot ply tennis? How is it fair that Ukrainians are dying ?"
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