Ten things you probably didn't know about Federer's conqueror - Sergiy Stakhovsky

Sergiy Stakhovsky

1. Speaks five languages – Ukranian, Slovak, Czech, Russian and English. Enjoys reading Russian classics and favourite writers are Bulgakov, Sinkevich and Dominik Dan. He also has his own website – http://www.sergiy-stakhovsky.com/en/

2. Has joined forces with the Ukrainian Institute of Cancer to create the ACE THE CANCER FUND, which helps people afflicted with the disease. Starting May 2010, Stakhovsky donates $5 per every ace he hits when playing ATP World Tour tournaments to this fund.

3. In 2004, he lost in the US Open juniors final to Andy Murray. In 2002, he beat Novak Djokovic in the quarterfinals of Luxembourg, before losing to Dudi Sela in the final.

4. In 2008, he lost in the final round of qualifying at the ATP Zagreb tournament, but entered the main draw as a lucky loser. He went on to beat #2 seed Ivo Karlovic in the first round, #8 seed Janko Tipsarevic in the quarterfinals, Simone Bolelli in the semifinals, and #1 seed Ivan Ljubicic in the final to win his first ATP-level title.

5. In 2009, Stakhovsky won his second ATP title in St. Petersburg beating Marat Safin and then Horacio Zeballos in the final.

6. In 2010, he won his third ATP title, beating Janko Tipsarevic in the final of the UNICEF Open on grass in Netherlands. At New Haven, he won his fourth career title with wins over Tommy Robredo and Marcos Baghdatis, becoming the first Ukrainian to win two titles in a season since Andrei Medvedev in 1994.

7. At the 2010 US Open, after knocking out Australian Peter Luczak in the first round, Stakhovsky fought back in the second round for a five-set win over American qualifier Ryan Harrison, coming back from triple match point down in the fifth-set tiebreaker. In the 3rd Round, Stakohovsky retired in the second set trailing Feliciano López with an infected toe. Stakohovsky peaked at no. 31 in September 2010.

8. In 2011, the then 27-year old married Anfisa Stakhovsky (formerly Anfisa Bulgakova). She happens to be a 5-foot-10 Russian model and holds a Masters degree in Strategic Marketing.

9. Stakhovsky is a member of the ATP Player Council and does not believe the women deserve equal prize money at the Slams. In an interview last year, he commented, “It’s obviously a sensitive issue, but in different sports it’s not sensitive. It’s just business. We’re not talking about men, women, equality. We are equal. We are people. We are human beings. When it comes to equality, it’s not equality, it’s business. Pure revenue and business, it’s nothing personal….I mean, why are male models underpaid compared to women?

“Are we supposed to pay women (tennis players) more just for looks? Not one Grand Slam ever was attended more for the women’s final than the men’s final. I am 100% sure. We sit down, do you know how many talks we have in the locker rooms about the Grand Slams, about pay increases? … It comes to the point where the men are willing to commit themselves and to communicate and to do some work towards the Grand Slams, towards getting more, and the women are just riding on our backs. They didn’t even say not one ‘thank you.’ I mean, they got an increase in Paris, they got an increase at the U.S. Open, they got an increase at Wimbledon. Did any of the WTA players ever come to the ATP offices and say, ‘We’re so grateful that the guys put this all together so we could get more money?’ There was no ‘thank you’. Now I don’t want it…. They don’t appreciate what we did and we don’t appreciate them riding on our backs.… If they would have their council, if they would do work with the Grand Slams and talk to them, it would be a different story. But we do the work for them.”

10. Before Wimbledon, Stakhovsky was only 4-12 against top 100 players this season with his best win coming over world no. 54 Paul Henri Matheiu in Montpllier