WWII fighter pilot Henry Young fought Nazis at 20 and plays tennis at 101
He flew Spitfires against the Nazis and eight decades later Henry Young AM is still defying the odds. The world’s oldest competitive tennis player takes the court this week on the Gold Coast.
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A 101-year-old World War II fighter pilot will extend his lead as the oldest competitive tennis player in the world on the Gold Coast this week.
Henry Young AM was 20 years old when he battled the Nazis in the skies above Europe, flying Spitfires for the Royal Navy.
Eight decades later Mr Young will contest the Queensland State Seniors Tennis Championships at Miami Tennis Club in Mermaid Waters.
It will be his first appearance since earning his Order of Australia Medal for services to veterans and tennis on the King’s Birthday holiday in June.
The Gold Coast tournament is a far cry from launching off the deck of an aircraft carrier but no less a tale of determination and bravery at an age where even walking unaided is an athletic feat.
The retired lieutenant picked up the sport at 70 and has paid a heavy price to continue playing past his 100th birthday.
Two new knees, a hip replacement, a pacemaker, cataract surgery in both eyes and two nasal reconstructions have kept Mr Young on court later in life than any man alive.
Why go through it?
“Because I love it,” the South Australian said.
“Given my time again I’d do it (start playing) at 65 because I have loved my time playing tennis.”
Mr Young said he first picked up squash to pass the time while grounded at airfields during the war.
After retiring from farm life in South Australia Mr Young began playing tennis and never stopped.
He said advances in medicine meant his case should not be as unique as it is.
“There’s a lot of luck in it, of course,” Mr Young said of his remarkable longevity.
“People give up tennis when they get tennis elbow, or something like that, and that’s ridiculous.
“The medical profession is so good these days that they can renew things, so people shouldn’t give up.”
Giving up isn’t in Mr Young’s vocabulary.
The centenarian is an international celebrity on the Masters tennis circuit and trained with World No.1 Jannik Sinner and No.3 Alexander Zverev ahead of the Australian Open in January.
Mr Young played on centre court at Rod Laver Arena himself in 2023, and played ITF World Senior events in Turkiye and Mallorca last year.
With a Japanese tournament on the horizon in 2026, Young is not giving retirement any thought.
“I’m not giving it up,” he said.
“When I start to embarrass my playing partners then I’ll give it up. I think I’ve got another two or three years left in me.
“I’ve got my eye on the Japanese. They’ve got a tournament in 2026 and I think I might just make it. They love old people, so they’ll love me.”
Tennis Gold Coast president Mike Ford said Mr Young’s abilities were outstanding.
“He’s hitting a beautiful ball. He loves the game, he’s energetic, he turns up, he looks forward to playing every day,” said Mr Ford, who coached Mr Young for a session at Mantra Sun City on Wednesday.
“He’s the ideal pupil and at 101 – can you believe it? I can’t,” Mr Ford added.
“He talks about the next tournament he’s going to go to in Croatia in October and then Japan, so it’s magnificent.”
The Queensland State Seniors Tennis Championships began Thursday July 3 and conclude on Tuesday July 8.
Originally published as WWII fighter pilot Henry Young fought Nazis at 20 and plays tennis at 101
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