JAKARTA – The war between Russia and Ukraine did not make Leonid Stanislavskyi flinch. The man who holds the Guinness World Record as the world's oldest tennis player refused to be evacuated.
The 97-year-old Stanislavskyi currently lives in Kharkiv, the second largest city in Ukraine to be targeted by the Russian military. Despite being in the danger zone, Stanislavskyi still refused to run away when persuaded by his family to go to Poland.
"I'm not afraid of anyone. I hope the war will end soon and I can play tennis. If I could [to Poland] I would play there, but I decided to stay at home and wait for the war to end," he was quoted as saying. Daily Star.
The ITF ranked 57th for the age of 90 and over last year has just realized his dream against Rafael Nadal and is ready to take on Roger Federer. However, now he is actually facing the reality of waiting for death that is right in front of his eyes.
The Russian military is currently bombing Stanislavskyi's hometown just a few miles from the Russian border. In the midst of such a tense situation, Stanislavskyi hoped to survive the war.
"My hearing is bad. So I sleep at night without hearing anything. Last night there was a bombing, the next morning there were air raid sirens again. I wish I were 100 years old. I have to survive this scary situation," he said.
"The war started on the 24th [February]. From the 24th until now I automatically don't go out. I stay at home. I have supplies, the fridge is full. I sit at home, not going anywhere."
Stanislavskyi served in the Second World War as an engineer helping build Soviet warplanes to fight Nazi Germany.
"I never thought that I would have to live in another more terrifying war situation where people from both sides were dying, mothers lost their children, wives lost their sons and husbands," he added.
"What is this? What's the point? In the 21st century there must be no war. War must stop, agreement must be reached."
Stanislavskyi said he hoped the current war would end soon. The end of the war will automatically allow him to appear at the next senior World Championships in Florida next month.
"Tennis is my life, my destiny. I have played tennis at a tough level since I was 90 years old, I have played abroad, I have played in World Championships, I have played in European Championships," he said.
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