‘Silence is complicity’: Moscow-born Daria Saville condemns Russia-Ukraine war
Daria Saville is one of the few Australian athletes to speak out about the Russia-Ukraine war, and her husband, Davis Cup debutant Luke Saville, hopes it inspires others to follow suit.
Saville (nee Gavrilova), who made her first WTA quarter-final in three years and knocked top seed Emma Raducanu out of a tournament in Mexico last week, shot to stardom after making the fourth round of the Australian Open in 2016 and 2017.
Australian tennis couple Daria and Luke Saville.Credit:Getty
But before she became an Australian tennis star, Saville had the Russian flag next to her name on tennis scoreboards around the world.
Born in Moscow, Saville represented Russia at the Youth Olympic Games in 2010. Her relationship with Luke played a significant part in her decision to seek Australian citizenship in 2015.
She has tweeted her support for Ukraine in the past few days.
“Russia. Stop this war,” Saville tweeted alongside a heartbreak emoji.
Saville then signalled her intention to wear blue and yellow in support of Ukraine in her next tournament, at Indian Wells, before switching to Russian to offer her support for those in the war-torn countries.
“Silence in the current situation is equal to complicity. Putin, stop the war. Army, come home!” she wrote.
Speaking at Sydney’s Ken Rosewall Arena before his Davis Cup debut, Luke Saville gave an insight into his wife’s concern for her parents, among others.
“It’s terrible, what’s happening over there, of course. It’s close to my heart, as well,” he said. “My mother-in-law and father-in-law are both over there in Moscow. Just speaking to [Daria] over the last few days, she’s just very worried. She’s concerned, and obviously that hits home with me.
“I want to see her happy, and playing well. It’s definitely been on her mind. She’s a little bit sad. I just hope they resolve it, basically, like everyone does.”
He commended his wife for having the courage to stand up and talk about the subject. He hopes others follow suit.
“She’s going to try and speak up and be a voice, and hopefully a lot of other players do the same,” he said.
On the court, Luke Saville will be the 193rd player to make his Davis Cup debut for Australia when the side kicks off its campaign against Hungary on Friday night.
Saville, a Wimbledon and Australian Open junior champion in 2011 and 2012 respectively, spoke passionately of the moment he received the call-up from Davis Cup captain Lleyton Hewitt.
“I knew I was a pretty decent chance. I had been in contact with Lleyton a bit after the Aussie Open,” he said. “I finally got the call from him after he had kept me in the loop. Called him back, got the news, and really just… goosebumps and chills. I still get it now.
“It’s something I have looked up to and to finally now achieve it, and get the number 193, is incredible. Now, it’s time to put in the hard work, go out there and lead well for Australia.”
Saville will almost certainly line up alongside Australia’s top doubles player John Peers.
Alex de Minaur will lead the team in singles, with Thanasi Kokkinakis and Alexei Popyrin both options for the second singles slot.
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