HELP World's Oldest ITF Competitive Tennis Player

My name is Jay, and together with Ukrainian Tennis Federation I am fundraising for the oldest competitive ITF tennis player in the world, a Ukrainian refugee - Mr. Leonid Stanislavskyi.

Unlike anyone I've ever met in tennis, his life reminds us of why we play and what is important. Two years ago, the Guinness Book of World Records recognized him as the oldest - living competitive tennis player. Rafael Nadal was kind enough to hit balls with him at his academy to honor that milestone. When he fled the Ukraine war, Rafa offered his encouragement. This is Leonid's story.

Fourteen months ago, Leonid Stanislavskyi was holed up in Kharkiv as Russian bombs pounded his nation’s second city. In the weeks following Russia’s advancement into Ukraine, Stanislavskyi remained in his Kharkiv apartment, where he lived for more than sixty years. He vowed that having survived World War ll, he would live beyond the current conflict.

Leonid is now ninety-nine and, since March 8, 2022, has been a refugee of war. When the Ukraine invasion started; Leonid was adamant he would stay put in his small Kharkiv flat, but the city's bombardment intensified, and valued friends left town. He was convinced that the only sensible action was to get out of Ukraine. Leonid packed one large suitcase and a backpack, stuffed in his tennis racket, and, thanks to a neighbor, made the grueling 3-day journey (2000 km) to the border with Slovakia. From there, he was driven another 6 hours to Lublin, Poland, where he stayed several weeks.

During this time, Leonid was welcomed at a local tennis club, and they made it possible for him to play tennis twice a week. Leonid himself proclaims, “For me, tennis is life.” A friend in the UK intervened, and a plan was conceived for Leonid to travel to the USA to compete in the Super Senior World Championships. Afterward, spending time with his

granddaughter in Virginia – something that would provide a much-needed respite from the war in Ukraine.

With the help and cooperation of the International Tennis Federation, Ukrainian Tennis Federation, and the Lithuanian Tennis Federation, we were able to move Leonid from an uncertain situation in the US to Vilnius, Lithuania. Leonid arrived on June 19 at the National Tennis Center of Lithuania. He was given immediate housing there along with two hours a week of tennis training, and with the Federations support the Lithuanian government granted him temporary refugee status. Leonid has no money of his own. He lived a simple life in Kharkiv and was able to lead a happy existence on a pension that equated to $400 a month. Now, he does not have access to that. So far, the GoFundMe dollars have filled the gap.

In January 2023 Leonid traveled to the Australian Open and took part in the fundraiser for Tennis Plays for Peace at the Rod Laver Arena alongside world-class tennis stars including Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray, Alexander Zverev, Frances Tiafoe, Coco Gauff, and others.

Unfortunately, long flights from Lithuania to Australia and back were not an easy endeavor. Leonid had some health issues and after the hospitalization could not go back to the hotel where he stayed previously. Lithuanian Tennis Federation kindly helped to find a senior living facility for him in the small town of Trakai near Vilnius with full medical attention.

The Lithuanian government has paid for his stay till June 2023. But from June onwards Leonid will need to pay EUR 2 000,00 a month to stay at the facility. That's where help is needed. Firstly, Leonid needs to get his health back in full and secondly fulfill his tennis dreams that he never gave up. He plans to attend and take part in the World Championships in October 2023 taking place in Majorca, Spain.

This extraordinary man’s resilience, heart, humility, and zest for life are fantastic, and he deserves the efforts, kindness and generosity of people that can help.

Our new goal is to fundraise $$3,500 a month to help Leonid with his accommodation and tennis.

We are addressing everyone who can donate and support a living legend to get through the war and continue his tennis efforts! Thank you for your help.