Stop the war, I want to play tennis, says defiant Leonid Stanislavskyi

Having lived through World War Two he had hoped that his days of witnessing bloodshed and devastation were over, but Leonid Stanislavskyi is once again being forced to show unstinting bravery and defiance.

Stanislavskyi, who turns 98 this month, is recognised as the oldest competitive tennis player in the world and has worn the colours of his beloved nation, Ukraine, with pride and considerable distinction for many years.

He currently finds himself confined to his Kharkiv home where he has lived for more than 60 years as the Ukrainian second city continues to be bombarded by heavy bombing amid the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Stanislavskyi is in regular contact with the Ukrainian Tennis Federation and ITF and has confirmed that he is receiving food parcels. He is also documenting proceedings through updates on social media.

“I have survived World War II and I will survive this war,” said Stanislavskyi, who previously worked as an engineer and helped build Soviet warplanes to fight the Nazis.

“I never thought that I would go through all this again. When Putin was gathering his forces on our borders, I never believed that a full-scale invasion would happen. But Putin did and massacre is happening right now.

“Young men, civilian women and children are dying. Putin and the world, please stop the war. Say no to war.”

Stanislavskyi is a regular and hugely popular competitor at ITF events and his presence at the ITF Super-Seniors World Championships in Mallorca, Spain in October 2021 formed part of a photo story which won a prestigious photographic competition.  

But even through this period of darkness, Stanislavskyi is taking comfort in tennis and retains faith that, even though it may seem a long way off at the present time, one day he will return to the court.

“I sit at home, can’t go out and there is the sound of explosions everywhere,” he added. “I defrosted a chicken leg and made a bouillon. Life goes on and I need to eat.

“We need this war to stop. I want to play tennis. Unicourt Tennis Club and Superior Tennis Club are closed. Shame on war. Let’s live and play tennis. I must reach my 100th birthday.”

Stay safe, Leonid.