JAKARTA - Russian tennis player Andrey Rublev sent a message to his country and the warring Ukraine. He requested that the two countries involved in the war immediately make a ceasefire.
Having a big name in tennis has made Rublev feel the need to speak out against his country's invasion of Ukraine. He then poured his message into the television camera lens moments after advancing to the final at the Dubai Open on Friday, 25 February.
"No War Please," Rublev wrote using a marker, quoted from ESPN. The message clearly points to the Russia-Ukraine conflict that is currently unfolding.
World number seven Rublev beat Poland's Hubert Hurkacz 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 (5) in the semi-finals before writing his message on camera as all players do after a match.
Russia attacked the Ukrainian capital, Kiev, on Thursday on a mission to invade the democratic country. The Russian military operation raised fears the war could spread across Europe and sparked efforts from around the world to stop Russia.
Earlier on Thursday he said he was getting some negative comments on the internet because of the situation in Ukraine.
"In these moments, you realize that my match is not important. It is not about my match, how it affects me. What happened was much more terrible," he said.
"You realize how important peace is in this world and to respect each other no matter what, to be united. This is about that war. We have to take care of our earth and protect each other. This is the most important thing," he continued.
The sporting world has widely condemned Russia's actions against Ukraine. UEFA even moved the European Champions League final place from St. Petersburg to Stade de France.
Meanwhile, Formula One (F1) said that it was impossible for them to race in Russia under the current circumstances. However, the organizers of the land jet race did not absolutely cancel the race which will take place in Russia in September.
Rublev will face Czech qualifier Jiri Vesely for the first time in the Dubai final on Saturday, 26 February
Vesely, who beat Novak Djokovic in the quarter-finals, followed with another top 20 win as he beat Denis Shapovalov 6-7 (7), 7-6 (2), 7-6 (3) in just over three hours.
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