INTERNATIONAL: 20-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal hit shots with 97-year-old Ukrainian Leonid Stanislavskyi, who is also the Guinness World Record holder as the world's oldest tennis player. A friendly game, which took place at the end of October at Rafa Nadal Academy in Manacor Spain was a dream come true for Stanislavskyi who has wanted to take on the world number four. Leonid Stanislavskyi came to Spain to participate in the 2021 Super-Seniors World Championship.

For the first time, the International Tennis Federation has introduced a 90-and-over age group in the 2021 tournamentafter Stanislavskyi sent a written request to the federation asking for the new category to be added.

For Stanislavskyi, who has been playing amateur tennis for over half a century, it is next to impossible to find a worthy adversary in his age group. He says, "My biggest dream is to live a few more years, at least till 100 years. Some people say: "Live until 120 years old." It would be wonderful if I could live till at least 100, 105 or 110 years old. That's my biggest dream and I fight for it. My dream is not simply to live up to 100 years old but to remain active and at least be able to play tennis. Probably I won't be a strong tennis player anymore, but I want to play even if not with much strength. I dream to meet prominent tennis players. "

Stanislavskyi was 30 when his colleague introduced him to tennis. Since then, he has trained three times a week in his hometown of Kharkiv in eastern Ukraine. Stanislavskyi said the secret to his longevity was a mixture of good genes and regular sport.

^{PHOTO: LEONID STANISLAVSKYI PLAYING AGAINST RAFAEL NADAL / STILL PHOTOGRAPHS OF NADAL AND STANISLAVSKYI / TRAINING ON TENNIS COURT / OFFICIAL CEREMONY FOR HANDING OVER GUINNESS WORLD RECORD CERTIFICATE TO STANISLAVSKYI / STANISLAVSKYI DEMONSTRATING HIS AWARDS / COMMENTS BY STANISLAVSKYI}