Andrey Rublev makes a bold statement speaking out against Vladimir Putin following the latest missil
World No. 9 and Russia’s no. 2 player in the ATP rankings, Andrey Rublev, makes yet another peace call to the Vladimir Putin-led Russian government. With the war in Ukraine now going on for nearly 8 months, the destruction is unmeasurable and the loss has been on both sides.
While the Russians speaking out against their own government have been detained within the country as per many reports, Rublev has remained bold enough to disprove the war. Russia recently launched multiple missiles in a mass attack on Ukraine and Rublev led out a peace call once again.
“Of course, it is hard and horrible to hear what is happening. As I have always said before, the most important thing is that there is peace in all parts of the world. From my position, the only thing I can do is try to show this through tennis, in interviews and on the court,” said Rublev during his press conference at the 2022 Gijon Open in Spain.
Despite a clear no-war stance, Andrey Rublev and his compatriots face participation difficulties
Ever since the war broke out, Russian and Belarusian athletes have faced difficulties. While some sports have suspended the teams completely, individual sports athletes are not allowed to have their respective country’s flags with them and are not to make any pro-Russian statements.
In tennis, both the Russian and Belarusian Tennis Federations stand suspended. Despite the regulations, Wimbledon did not allow any players from the two nations and as a result, no ranking points were awarded to players this year while entire points of last year were stripped by both ATP and WTA.
Barring Wimbledon, no other Grand Slam has made such a decision. The 2023 Australian Open will allow players from the two nations but within the current rule system only. The Auckland Open might have to follow Wimbledon and ban the players as they face a sponsorship withdrawal threat.
Relaxation in the rules is not expected unless the war comes to an end and what looks by it, the pleas of Rublev and Co. are falling on deaf years as the war continues to wage causing havoc and destruction in the European country.
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