‘No war’: Russian athletes call for peace as sports world opposes Russia-Ukraine war

Tennis player Andrey Rublev wrote “No War Please” on a TV camera moments after vancing to final at Dubai Championships on Friday, a sentiment echoed a few hours later by NHL star and fellow Russian Alex Ovechkin in U.S.

seventh-ranked Rublev h just beaten Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 (5) in ir semifinal when he wrote his message on camera, a common practice after matches.

Russian troops bore down on Ukraine’s capital Friday in an invasion that has fueled fears of wider war in Europe and triggered worldwide efforts to make Russia stop. Rublev wasn’t asked about message during his on-court interview immediately following match.

Ovechkin, one of most prominent Russian athletes in U.S., me a plea for peace while talking with reporters after practice in Philelphia. Moscow native said he has family and “lots of friends in Russia and Ukraine” and hopes attack will end soon.

“Please, no more war,” Ovechkin said Friday. “It doesn’t matter who is in war, Russia, Ukraine, different countries. I think we live in a world that we have to live in peace.”

Ovechkin has been a vocal supporter of Russia President Vlimir Putin. In 2017, Ovechkin launched “Putin team” he said was not related to election following year but rar a show of support for his country. Asked Friday about his relationship with Putin, NHL star said: “He’s my president, but I’m not in politics. I’m an athlete.”he

Russian tennis player Daniil Medvedev spoke Thursday at Mexico Open about waking up to news that his country h inved Ukraine.

“Watching news from home, waking up here in Mexico, was not easy,” said Medvedev, who will become No. 1 men’s player when rankings are announced next week.

“By being a tennis player, I want to promote peace all over world,” Medvedev continued. “We play in so many different countries. It’s just not easy to hear all this news. I’m all for peace.”

Rublev will face Czech qualifier Jiri Vesely for first time in Dubai final on Saturday.

Vesely, who knocked out Novak Djokovic in quarterfinals, followed with anor top-20 win when he outlasted Denis Shapovalov 6-7 (7), 7-6 (2), 7-6 (3) in more than three hours.

“I’m having a dream run here,” Vesely said.