Serbian tennis coach praises Russian missile that destroyed Ukrainian player's apartment — loses accreditation
After a Russian missile strike on Odesa destroyed the apartment of Ukrainian tennis player Dayana Yastremska, Serbian coach Vladimir Odobasic publicly welcomed the destruction. The International Professional Tennis Coaches Association responded by suspending his membership.
On September 11, Russian forces carried out an intensified wave of missile and drone strikes on Ukrainian cities, including Odesa, where a Kalibr cruise missile struck a residential apartment building. The attack destroyed the apartment belonging to the family of Ukrainian tennis player Dayana Yastremska.
The 26-year-old athlete, who reached the semifinals of the Australian Open in 2024 and currently ranks 113th in the world, shared the news on social media along with photos of the burning building. She noted that the only item to survive the strike was a towel from the Roland Garros tournament in Paris, found hanging amid the rubble.
Coach's comment sparks outrage
While most comments on the post expressed sympathy and condemned Russia's actions, some users celebrated the destruction and voiced support for Russian President Vladimir Putin. Among them was Serbian tennis coach Vladimir Odobasic, who wrote "Bravo, Russia" in response to the post.
Odobasic's remark drew swift attention, prompting the International Professional Tennis Coaches Association (GPTCA) to suspend his membership. According to Ukrainian outlet Glavkom, his profile on the GPTCA website now states that his membership has been suspended and is no longer valid.
In 2022, Odobasic had earned the GPTCA's highest coaching qualification, the A-level certificate, and his profile listed more than 23 years of coaching experience. Instructors of the same certification program have included other coaches who have worked with top-ranked world players.
