World’s oldest tennis player hopes to play tennis again

The world’s oldest tennis player stays in the Ukraine war zone. Leonid Stanislavskyi, 97, was an amateur tennis player who currently holds the Guinness World Record as the world’s oldest tennis player. Prior to the Russian invasion of his homeland, Stanislavskyi was able to fulfiill his dream of playing with the 21-times Grand Slam champion Rafa Nadal. He also expressed his wish to be able to play with the Swiss great Roger Federer. His dream was changed overnight as he wishes now to survive the frightening situation. “I hope I live to reach 100,” he says. During the start of the war, he stayed at home and was fortunate to have enough supplies and food. His daughter in Poland wants to take him there but he insists on staying as his bad hearing allows him to sleep soundly at night. Stanislavskyi has witnessed the Second World War as a Soviet warplane engineer against the Nazis. “What is this? What good is it? In the 21st century, there can’t be war. The war needs to be stopped, an agreement has to be reached,” he said. He hopes for the conflict to end as there might be a chance for him to play tennis again and appear at the next seniors' World Championships in Florida next month. He was first introduced to the sport at the age of 30 and started to train three times a week until reaching 90 and was able to play in the World Championships and in the European championships. “Tennis is my life, my destiny… I’m hoping that the war will end and I will be able to play tennis. If I could get (to Poland) I would play there. But I decided to stay at home and wait for the end of the war,” he said. KSO/Expat Media
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