Sergiy Stakhovsky has withdrawn from the Mons Challenger in Belgium this week, seemingly in protest for an ITF decision that did not to allow Ukraine to host a Davis Cup tie against Belgium last month for security reasons.
The Davis Cup World Group playoff tie between Ukraine and Belgium following the US Open was scheduled to be held in Kiev. However, the Belgian Tennis Federation successfully petitioned to have it moved to a neutral site citing political upheaval in Ukraine, and the tie was played in Estonia.
Stakhovsky expressed his displeasure with the decision prior to the tie at the US Open, and withdrew from the event seemingly in retaliation. As he often does, he continued to voice his displeasure on his Twitter account. The Ukrainian was the champion at another Challenger event in Orleans, France, last week.
Dominique Monami, former WTA No. 9 and tournament director for the event, didn't seem to mind all that much.
Stakhovsky and Monami then proceeded to have a heated Twitter exchange, in which the Ukrainian wrote: "Whatever I can do to make the tournament director happy...but I think the players who will play WC in the first round will thank me more then you," while Monami replied, "You made my day."
Belgium's own David Goffin is the top seed in the event.
Photo: AP