Sergiy Stakhovsky: From Federer-Vanquisher to Wine Lover
Sergiy Stakhovsky is not considered a representative of quiet tones on the ATP tour. The 34-year-old Ukrainian has proven this in the past few years when it came to sports policy discussions. Stakhovsky liked to take a stand, especially in his role as a member of the ATP Players' Council. However, the current number 153 in the world rankings laid down this item last year. Stakhovsky will also be significantly shorter as an active player in the coming season. He has also created another mainstay with the production of his own wine.
by Florian Heer
last edit: Feb 05, 2020, 09:19 am
Tuesday afternoon two weeks ago in Rennes, France. Sergiy Stakhovsky has just won his opening match in the first European ATP Challenger tournament of the new season against the German Mats Moraing in two sets. The Ukrainian is number one at the indoor event in Brittany, endowed with 46,600 euros, and appears satisfied with his performance. He started the season in Australia, where the journey ended in the second round of qualifying for the Australian Open. The veteran no longer feels pressure to go into a tournament as a top favorite.
Fewer tournaments in 2020
“All players here can play good tennis. The differences between the number 50 and the number 250 in men's tennis are very small. You can win or lose against everyone, ”explains Stakhovsky in an interview that takes place in a small press room within the Le Liberté Arena. "For me, however, this season will look a lot different compared to previous years because I will play significantly fewer tournaments."
It was a good ten years ago when the man from Kiev was ranked 31st in the ATP ranking. Stakhovksy won four titles on the ATP tour. In the meantime, however, he is primarily on the challenger level. This status quo has to be changed in the third decade of his professional tennis career. He only wants to play selected Challenger tournaments in 2020. Among other things, the event in Pau, which is organized by his buddy Jeremy Chardy.
Tokyo as a destination
“I will primarily play the qualification for the ATP events. Montpellier, Rotterdam and Marseille are next here. If the peloton doesn't work out, I won't necessarily go back to the Challenger Tour, ”says Stakhovsky, who wants to return to the top 100 and wants to be at the Tokyo Olympics. It will be a final attack on the top of the world. The eloquent Ukrainian wants to hang up his tennis racket within the next few years.
"If you have spent a few years among the top 50 players in the world and had a decent career, it is always a challenge to motivate yourself for the next tasks," says Stakhovsky, who won the 2013 game of Roger Federer at Wimbledon celebrated greatest career success, too. “I have a good preparation for this season behind me, but mentally it is getting more and more difficult. Especially against the young, still very hungry players. Even if they don't always have the best ranking, they are extremely demanding because they want to win every match. ”
Entry into the wine business
In the meantime, the experienced professional has also discovered new preferences off the pitch. At the end of January, Stakhovsky presented his own wine in Kiev. “The project started five years ago when we leased two hectares of winery in Ukraine. We have restructured something and grown two grape varieties. A Georgian named Saperavi and Merlot. There is a big market in Ukraine, but we don’t have a strong wine culture. ”
Stakhovsky would not call himself a wine drinker, rather a wine lover. "I like the whole procedure. Drink the whole culture around wine. It is nice to enjoy a good glass of wine with friends and to exchange different experiences. It is also an even healthier alcoholic product, ”said Stakhovsky, who was able to make his first contacts in the industry by participating in a tournament in Bordeaux. He maintains this to this day and consequently, besides the sale in Ukraine, there will also be a shop in the south of France and in his place of residence in Budapest, where you can buy the “Ace by Stakhovsky” in the future.
"I have no idea how it is received by customers. I think we have a good product that we put a lot of effort into. In the end, it's not a big business for me. If the project is up and running, that's absolutely fine for me. ”