Russian athletes like Andrey Rublev and Alex Ovechkin speak out against war with Ukraine

Russian athletes are promoting an anti-war message after the invasion of Ukraine, including one of Vladimir Putin's most visible supporters.

Tennis and ice hockey are among the biggest sports in the country, and some of Russia's biggest stars in both have spoken out against the war that started when President Putin launched an invasion of Ukraine.

Ice hockey superstar Alex Ovechkin, one of the most prominent Russian athletes in the US thanks to a legendary NHL career, made a plea for peace while talking with reporters after practice in Philadelphia.

The Moscow native has been a vocal pro-Putin voice in the past.

In 2017, Ovechkin launched the «Putin team» he said was not related to the election the following year, but rather a show of support for his country.

He said on Friday he has family and «lots of friends in Russia and Ukraine» and hopes the attack will end soon.

«Please, no more war,» Ovechkin said.

«It doesn't matter who is in the war, Russia, Ukraine, different countries. I think we live in a world that we have to live in peace.»

Tennis player Andrey Rublev wrote «No war please» on a TV camera moments after reaching the final of the Dubai Championships.

Earlier, Daniil Medvedev spoke at the Mexico Open about waking up to news that his country had launched an invasion, coincidentally on the same day it was confirmed he would become world number one for the first time.

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

«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.»

The men's final is moved from St Petersburg to the Stade de France in Paris, after Russia's invasion of