Russia's Daniil Medvedev: 'I want to promote peace all over the world'

Russian Daniil Medvedev will soon become the new world No. 1 and replace Novak Djokovic atop the ATP rankings but understandably had other things on his mind coming off his quarterfinal win over Yoshihito Nishioka in the Mexican Open that set up a future showdown with tennis living legend Rafael Nadal. 

Both Medvedev and fellow Russian Andrey Rublev addressed their home country's invasion of Ukraine while at separate events. Rublev is competing at the Dubai Tennis Championships. 

"By being a tennis player, I want to promote peace all over the world," Medvedev told reporters, per Sky Sports. "We play in so many different countries. I've been in so many different countries as a junior and as a pro. It's just not easy to hear all this news. I'm all for peace."

Medvedev also noted how Rublev and Ukraine's Denys Molchanov won the doubles title at the Marseille Open last week. 

"This was amazing because I think people need to stay together and that's the most important [thing]," Medvedev remarked. "In this moment, you understand that tennis sometimes is not that important."

Following his latest victory, Rublev wrote the phrase "No war please" on a TV camera: