ATP, WTA Condemns Ukraine's Stakhovsky After Homophobic Rant On Female Tennis Players

Association of Tennis Professional and Women’s Tennis Association scrutinized Sergiy Stakhovsky following his homophobic rants he reportedly made in an interview. The Ukrainian tennis player claimed that almost every other players in the WTA Tour “is a lesbian” and said he “for sure” would not send his daughter to play tennis according to the reports of NYpost.com.

The 29-year-old tennis professional has come under fire from tennis authorities for his anti-gay comments. Stakhovsky also said in the interview that the "backbone" of the top 100 in the men's ATP tour has “definitely no gays.” Stakhovsky’s comments were quoted by Ukrainian sports website Xsport.ua.

WTA chairman and chief executive Stacey Allaster was saddened with the Ukrainian’s claims. She responded to Stakhovsky’s remarks saying that there are still “narrow minded” people who “speak derisively about women based on sexual orientation.” Allaster also added she is proud of all WTA players who are “forward thinking” and treat everyone equal. ATP head Chris Kermode said the matter was being reviewed by the organization while finding Stakhovsky’s comments as “offensive, unacceptable, and have no place” in the world of tennis.

Former men's tour star James Blake also countered Stakhovsky’s comments saying that he would be “thrilled” if his daughters would follow in the footsteps of inspirational greats like Martina Navratilova and Billie Jean King. He also added that Stakhovsky’s statements were out of line.

"Stakhovsky's comments are out of line, out of touch, and stand in opposition to the values that tennis taught me. And Stakhovsky is kidding himself if he believes there are no gay tennis players in the (men's) top 100. I hope that if any players inside or outside the top 100 decide to come out, they will be welcomed and supported,” Blake said as per Skysports.

Meanwhile, Navratilova, who came out as lesbian in the 1980s, confronted the Ukrainian on social media platform Twitter saying that the latter’s comments were homophobic and questioned him about not letting her daughter play tennis “because she might turn into a lesbian.” Stakhovsky replied that there are “many various reasons” for not letting her daughter play professional tennis adding that the gender issue was “the least worrying case” for him.

Stakhovsky made headlines in 2013 when he upset Federer in the second round of Wimbledon ending the Swiss Maestro’s run of 36 consecutive Grand Slam quarterfinals. However, he was knocked out in the first round of this year’s Wimbledon after losing in five sets to Croatian Borna Coric.

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