5 days ago
Teen war refugee, 13, discovered playing tennis against Glasgow wall makes Wimbledon final
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A UKRAINIAN war refugee who was discovered playing tennis against the wall of a Glasgow hotel has been hailed for his 'fairytale' journey to a Wimbledon final.
Thirteen-year-old Illia Snaksarov reached the finals at SW19 by seeing off competition from across the UK in the junior event - just months after he was spotted by a city council interpreter and introduced to a nearby tennis club.
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Illia Snaksarov escaped war in Ukraine and is now a Wimbledon finalist
Credit: BBC SPORT
The teen, who fled Russia's invasion and arrived in Glasgow two years ago, quicky rose in club ranks, going on to win regional heats of the Lawn Tennis Association's Play Your Way To Wimbledon earlier in the summer.
Snaksarov lost 6-3, 6-2 in the final at Wimbledon to England's Mayr-Brown Devall but his parents Vlad and have hailed his incredible achievement and praised coaches at Western Tennis Club who have taken Illia under their wing.
Mum Sviltana said: 'It has been an incredible experience for us and for Illia, who has been able to play so many matches with so many different kids from all over the country.
'We have had so many emotions, nerves and tears of happiness among them. It's been amazing.'
Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine the Snaksarovs fled to the UK from their home town of Khmelnitsky, in the region of Podolia, via Poland and London.
Illia, mum Svitlana and dad Volodymyr were eventually rehomed in the Calton area in the east end of the city, where their son attends St Mungo's Academy.
Mum Svitlana worked as a childminder in Ukraine and now volunteers in a charity shop while taking English classes at college.
Dad Volodymyr, a grocer who ran junior tennis competitions in Ukraine now embroiders bracelets in the colours of his country to sell to raise funds for the war effort in Ukraine. He also coaches his son on the city's municipal tennis courts.
He said: 'Thanks to the Western Club and the Lawn Tennis Association we have found ourselves in a fairytale this week. All is very good.'
Coach Julie Gordon, from Western Tennis Club said: 'What Illia has achieved is truly remarkable, considering the hardships he and his family have had to endure fleeing the war in their home. Three years ago it was hard to imagine him playing at a Wimbledon final.
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'Reaching the finals of an event like this is hugely significant for any young player, but Illia has show so much resilience and determination, and huge talent too, and his family have been incredible.
'He's one of a few players who we have here at the club who have fled the war in Ukraine.
'We're so proud to have him playing at Western, and look forward to seeing what he achieves next.'
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