When reflecting upon 2022, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in late February and the war which continues to rage have provided some of the most shocking, saddening and emotive images of the year.

In the immediate aftermath of the invasion, the tennis family united in their solidarity and within weeks the Tennis Plays For Peace initiative had been established by the sport’s seven governing bodies as humanitarian relief efforts intensified.

In the ensuing months, players, sponsors and fans joined forces and have raised more than $1.2m for Global Giving’s Ukraine Crisis Relief Fund, reflecting the power of coalition and strength of feeling. 

While players from Ukraine and others from further afield have spoken so eloquently on the issue, one individual who has epitomised the resilience of his nation is 98-year-old Leonid Stanislavskyi.

Stanislavskyi is regarded as the oldest competitive tennis player on the planet and on 11 January he will compete with fellow nonagenarian Henry Young on Rad Laver Arena in a 'Battle of the Centurions' clash ahead of the 2023 Australian Open. 

After fleeing Ukraine and the horrors of war, Stanislavskyi has become something of a beacon of defiance as has continued to represent his nation, both on and off court, with pride and distinction.

In the weeks following Russia’s advancement into Ukraine, Stanislavskyi remained in his Kharkiv residence – his home for more than 60 years – and vowed that having survived World War II, he would live beyond the current conflict.

As the invasion continued – he revealed in one communication that the “sound of explosions were everywhere” – Stanislavskyi made the heart-wrenching decision to leave Ukraine and seek sanctuary.

It was an arduous journey but having made his way to the Slovakian border, and after enquiring whether he could play tennis in the coming days, he eventually met with his daughter, Tanya, in Lublin, Poland.

Immediately becoming a member of Lublin Tennis Club, Stanislavskyi was a guest at Poland’s Billie Jean King Cup Qualifier against Romania in Radom in April and had a hit with the Polish doubles team, Magdalena Frech and Alicja Rosolska.

Throughout this period of darkness and all the tribulations facing a besieged nation, the thought of returning to the court and freely contesting global events proved an enormous source of comfort for a player so used to competing.

While other Ukrainians have not been so fortunate and remain in the depths of war – or worse, Stanislavskyi has seized the opportunity to promote his nation on the world stage.

Indeed, there was more than a sense of occasion when he took to the court at May’s ITF Super Seniors World Individual Championships in Palm Beach County, Florida.

He received a rousing reception as he walked out, bedecked in Ukrainian colours, for his match with George McCabe of the United States. In truth, Stanislavskyi has been mobbed wherever he has been this year.

There was certainly much appreciation at September's Davis Cup by Rakuten Finals Group Stage in Hamburg to which Stanislavskyi travelled and trained with, among others, then-world No. 5 Alexander Zverev.

Two-time Grand Slam champion and former world No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt was among those watching in awe from the stands of Am Rothenbaum as Stanislavskyi belied his age and stampeded around the court to great effect.  

He has continued to hone his skills and remains as fit and eager as ever to compete, with his sights now firmly set on his showdown with Young at next month's Australian Open.

Stanislavskyi’s story is truly remarkable, although his ability to access funds has been decimated by the trials of war. In June, the Lithuanian Tennis Union offered him temporary refuge in Vilnius, the nation's capital city, but while war continues to rage in Ukraine, he faces an uncertain future.

Stanislavskyi remains completely dependent on offers of support and donations to cover his daily costs. As such, a GoFundMe page has been set up by Jay Senter, a fellow competitor on the ITF Masters Tour, to assist with his ongoing costs and expenditure with the aim of safeguarding Stanislavskyi’s immediate future. 

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