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Scottish Sun
5 days ago
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Teen war refugee, 13, discovered playing tennis against Glasgow wall makes Wimbledon final
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) 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. 1 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. Ben Shelton in tense exchange with Flavio Cobolli on live TV after controversial gesture ahead of US Open '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.' Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
Times
29-06-2025
- Sport
- Times
Meet the teenage Ukrainian refugee heading to Wimbledon
He's the teenage tennis prodigy who fled bombs in Ukraine. Now he's set to fire aces at Wimbledon. Illia Snaksarov was discovered hitting a tennis ball against the outside wall of the Glasgow hotel he and his parents were living in after fleeing Russia's invasion of their home town in 2022. The determined 13-year-old was spotted by Svetlana Mackenzie, an interpreter who was working with displaced families as they arrived in Scotland. Mackenzie, who is a member of Western Tennis Club, arranged for Illia to play with other children there. He rose rapidly through the club ranks, eventually winning the West of Scotland inter-club leagues, and secured his place at the Wimbledon juniors tournament after a win in the West of Scotland finals of the Play Your Way to Wimbledon event. Next month he'll head south to SW19's hallowed grass courts to face competition from youngsters from around the UK. Illia, a pupil at St Mungo's Academy, trains four times a week with his dad, Volodymyr, who ran tennis tournaments in Ukraine before the war — now he makes Wimbledon-themed bracelets to sell outside concerts and sports events raising money for his country's war effort. Illia, who speaks seven languages (Ukrainian, Russian, English, Spanish, Italian, French and Polish), said: 'It's been great to play at Western, because up until that point I didn't have anywhere else to play, I didn't know about any courts to go to. 'When I came here I started coming to do training sessions working on my game. Then I started playing league matches after a couple of months.' He added: 'My favourite player is Carlos Alcaraz, he plays good, aggressive tennis, and has a balanced mentality in games. I have a good serve, and can play aggressive forehands.' Mackenzie, who works for Glasgow city council's Ukrainian response team, said: 'I could tell that Illia had talent and I was delighted to invite him and his dad to train at my club, Western, where I knew they would be welcomed and given opportunities.' Illia's mother, Svitlana, who was a childminder and now volunteers in a city charity shop, has settled her family in Calton. She said: 'There was a helicopter landing area close to our home in Khmelnitskiy and because of that there was a lot of shooting and fighting. We had to leave. Our main goal in coming here was for Illia to be safe.' Volodymyr added: 'We are so grateful for the training sessions. It is so exciting, we are really happy about what's happening. It's such a good start and is a chance for him to respect what he can achieve. We are so grateful to the club for what they have given him.' Ian Campbell, the head coach at Western, said: 'It's been inspiring to watch how hard Illia and his dad train and we are delighted that we have been able to offer him extra training and we will be rooting for him all the way at Wimbledon.'
