Russian tennis player Andrey Rublev writes 'no war please' on camera lens after match

After a win on Friday, Russian tennis player Andrey Rublev made a statement against Russia's war with Ukraine.

Rublev competed in the Dubai Championships and defeated Hubert Hurkacz of Poland, advancing to the finals, according to ESPN. But after the match was over, he approached a television camera to write "no war please" on the lens.

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Those in attendance at the tournament cheered Rublev on when his anti-war message was shown, and he drew praise for the move on social media. "By making this statement, which many Westerners will blow off as a passing sentiment, his brave young man could have just signed his death certificate," writer and director Ted Geoghegan said. "We should all be doing what we can to keep Rublev and other Russians who speak up safe from their government."

Brendan Morrow

Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.