Medvedev and Sabalenka clearly spoke out against Russian aggression and called for peace

The Ukrainian-Russian conflict is still ongoing. Russian athletes do not comment much on this topic, but the exception are tennis players who distance themselves as much as possible from the conflict in Ukraine and Russian attacks and publicly criticise Vladimir Putin’s regime.

Fresh world No. 1 Daniil Medvedev, already sharply critical of the conflict in Ukraine in the past, has now called for peace together with world No. 3 Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus.

“My message is still the same. I want peace in the world, and I think every tennis player sees it the same way,” Medvedev told the world ahead of the Indian Wells tournament.

Belarusian tennis player Sabalenka will play the tournament wearing a blue and yellow ribbon, which symbolizes the Ukrainian flag. She has encouraged other tournament participants to do the same, and it is questionable whether Russian players will join the gesture.

“I am really very sad about how many people in Ukraine have lost their homes because of the war. Hopefully there will be peace soon,” said Sabalenka, 23

All Russian and Belarusian tennis players will play under a neutral flag. The decision was made by both the ATP and the WTA.

Both these organisations, including the ITF, have donated a total of 700,000 dollars (16 million crowns) to help Ukraine.

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