It began on February 24 and since then the consequences have not ceased. Despite the fact that we have become accustomed to seeing images of the Russian invasion in Ukraine, it does not stop having the same relevance as at the beginning. One of the many people affected by the conflict is Lyudmyla Kichenok, Ukrainian doubles number one in the ranking. She has managed to reach the semi-finals in Roland Garros y Wimbledon, in addition to conquering the Birmingham WTA title, all with Jelena Ostapenko as a partner. Lyudmyla wanted to share what she has had to go through with Suspilne Media, in addition to explaining how the situation has been experienced within the circuit.
— Lyudmyla Kichenok, Ukraine’s #1 in #WTA doubles, semi-finalist at RG & Wimbledon this year, told https://t.co/VKuOVWPQJN how she fled —- because of the Russia’s war & emotional rollercoaster while managing life on #tennis tour.
Read more quotes in the next tweets– pic.twitter.com/GDRBLUsWMH
– Ukrainian Tennis —— ENG (@ukrtennis_eng) July 16, 2022
Exit from Ukraine
“On February 22, my sister Nadiia left Ukraine with her husband. She warned me that something terrible would happen, but I didn’t believe it. On February 24, my mother woke me up and she told me that they were shelling the suburbs of Kyiv. I was paralyzed. My body shook for two hours. I was scared.
We decided to flee to Moldova. We went by car. I drove for 36 hours without stopping, I didn’t know the human body was capable of it. I didn’t sleep for a week. Then I went to Iasi, Romania, by train with refugees, mothers and children. You have a different perspective on life when you see something like that. I was surprised by the reception in Romania, several volunteers were at the station to assist us.
“Everyone acted like nothing was wrong”
“Then I flew to Indian Wells. I didn’t know how to train when your body won’t let you. I did nothing for twelve days. She was shocked. Meanwhile, the people around were happy and as if nothing happened. WTA psychologists asked questions. They sympathized, but they don’t really understand what is going on in our country.
I received many messages from players asking me how to help. There were many, but at that moment everything was a blur to me. Later, we found out that my father came back to join the territorial defense, but there were already enough people. Help as a volunteer while my mother is in Austria with the relatives of my sister’s husband”.
with the desire to return
“I really want to go home, just take a walk. I want to go back and live like before, although I understand that it can’t be like before. But I have hope. I believe in Ukraine’s victory from day one. When Ukraine played the BJKC it wasn’t like we were playing against the US team. We give our best, we play for Ukraine.
Most people in tennis don’t understand what’s going on. It’s hard for us. It is difficult to see sports facilities destroyed. I feel outraged, it’s an injustice.”
