From playing with Nadal at 97 to resisting in the war in Ukraine

Last October, the Ukrainian Leonid Stanislavskyi made one of his dreams come true at the age of 97: being able to play a few points on a tennis court with Rafa Nadal on the courts of the Rafa Nadal Academy. Stanislavskyi, who holds the Guinness record as the oldest tennis player in the world, did not hesitate to be photographed with a Nadal who at that time was slowly returning to the courts after his operation for the foot injury that prevented him from playing the second part of the last season and before the bleat he showed his talent for tennis despite his advanced age in an exchange of points.

However, in just a few months Stanislavskyi’s dream in Manacor has turned into a nightmare because of the war in Ukraine. A conflict that Stanislavskyi is living in situ in Kharkov, one of the cities most besieged by Russian bombing, although it has no intention of leaving Kharkov despite the bombing. “I never thought I would have to live through another war so terrifying, with deaths on both sides in which mothers lose their children and wives lose their husbands. My daughter Tanya is in Poland and she wants me to go there. But I decided to stay here. I have hearing problems, I can sleep at night without hearing anything,” said the long-time tennis player, who also confessed: “I hope to live to be 100 years old. I have to survive this terrifying war. Since the war began on February 24, I have barely left the house. I have supplies and the fridge is full.

Aware of his situation, the Rafa Nadal Academy wanted to send this message of encouragement to the veteran tennis player, whom they want to see again in Manacor, where they will welcome him with open arms. “Dear Leonid, from the Rafa Nadal Academy by Movistar we send you all our support in this difficult situation. We were very happy with your visit last year. We hope that, as soon as this is over, you can visit us again in Mallorca and play on our track. Thanks also to our coach Nata Mordasova for being an example of strength and solidarity at the Academy.” The Rafa Nadal Academy has also become the refuge for the young Ukrainian tennis player Anastasiia Lopatawho was unable to return to his country because of the start of the war.