'No War Please' writes Rublev after win

Russian tennis player Andrey Rublev has made another plea for peace, writing "No War Please" on a TV camera lens moments after advancing to the final at the Dubai Championships.

The world No.7 had just beaten Poland's Hubert Hurkacz 3-6 7-5 7-6 (7-5) in their semi-final on Friday before writing a message on the camera as players are now often asked to do after matches.

Russian troops bore down on Ukraine's capital Kiev on Friday in an invasion of a democratic country that has fuelled fears of wider war in Europe and triggered worldwide efforts to make Russia stop.

Rublev wasn't asked about the message during his on-court interview immediately following the match but he had said after his previous win on Thursday: ""You realise how important it is to have peace in the world and to respect each other no matter what, to be united.

"We should take care of our earth and of each other. This is the most important thing."

Rublev had shared similar thoughts at the weekend after teaming up with Ukrainian Denys Molchanov to win a doubles title in Marseille..

Earlier at a tournament in Acapulco, Rublev's compatriot Daniil Medvedev, who will be crowned world No.1 next Monday, had spoken about waking up to news that his country had invaded Ukraine.

"Watching the news from home, waking up here in Mexico, was not easy," said Medvedev.

"By being a tennis player, I want to promote peace all over the world. We play in so many different countries. It's just not easy to hear all this news. I'm all for peace."