Sergei Bubka Is Making Progress In His Rehab

Written by: Staff on 10th June 2013

Sergei Bubka Is Making Progress In His Rehab

epa02892528 Sergei Bubka of Ukraine hits a return to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France during their second round match on the fourth day of the 2011 US Open Tennis Championship at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA 01 September 2011. The US Open runs through 11 September 2011. EPA/JASON SZENES |

Sergei Bubka Jr, the tennis playing son of the former pole vault legend, who suffered appalling injuries after falling three stories into a Parisian courtyard eight months ago, is determined to prove his competitive career is not over.

While his father, also called Sergei, is campaigning to become President of the International Olympic Committee, Bubka Jr. is battling his way back to fitness although it will be an extremely long campaign.

The 26 year-old Ukrainian Davis Cup regular who required eight hours of surgery and spent six months on crutches after suffering multiple injuries to his thigh, ribs and right arm, was trying to escape after accidentally being locked in the bathroom of a friend’s apartment.

Last week he attended the French Open and was warmly welcomed in the Roland Garros players’ lounge. ““It’s the biggest challenge I’ve ever faced in my life,” he said.

“So it’s very difficult, but I believe in it, I miss tennis; I’ve always loved to play tennis. Now I love it even more. When you take something away, that’s when you realize how much you miss it.”

Bubka, now aged 26, reached a career high 145th singles ranking at the end of 2011 and 134th at doubles five years ago. He was schooled at tennis by revered coach Bob Brett and was standing 150th in the world when he suffered his injuries.

He is insistent he survived the fall because of his overall strength and solid bone condition from years of athletic training and competition.

“I lost 10 kilos (22lbs) ,” he said. “So I have to build all my muscles again now. I do bikes, I do skis, I do little sit-ups.”

But so far, little tennis. “I hit a couple of balls on one leg,” he admitted, saying his upper body is strong again but the right leg remains weak and occasionally painful. “Now I feel like I can slowly playing some mini-tennis to start feeling the ball again. And in a month or two I should be able to start running.”

©Daily Tennis News Wire

Topics: French Open, International Olympic Committee, Sergei Bubka, Tennis News, Ukrainian Davis Cup