Russian tennis champion Daniil Medvedev has called for world peace “on behalf of every kid in the world” as his country wages war on Ukraine.
The emotional plea came on the back of a poignant spiel delivered after his loss to Rafael Nadal in this year’s Australian Open final, in which he took his press conference in his own direction as he revealed a shattering truth.
“It’s going to be a little bit of a new press conference because I’m going to start with short or long, I don’t know, story of a young kid who dreamed about big things in tennis,” Medvedev told reporters.
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He then cut the figure of a man shaken by the public’s disdain for him during the Australian Open, admitting “the kid stopped dreaming”.
Medvedev, an intense character susceptible to a racquet smash, verbal assault on an umpire and vitriol toward a crowd, had copped a barrage of boos and been disheartened by a dearth of support throughout the Melbourne Park major.
“Do you all remember what I have said after Australian Open final?” Medvedev wrote on Instagram on Monday.
“This story was just about me, my childhood dreams.”
That led Medvedev to addressing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine orchestrated by president Vladimir Putin, which has led to hundreds of deaths and worldwide condemnation.
“And today I want to speak on behalf of every kid in the world,” Medvedev added.
“They all have dreams, their life is just starting, so many nice experiences to come: first friends, first great emotions. Everything they feel and see is for the first time in their lives.
“That’s why I want to ask for peace in the world, for peace between countries.
“Kids are born with inner trust in the world, they believe so much in everything: in people, in love, in safety and justice, in their chances in life.
“Let’s be together and show them that it’s true, cause every kid shouldn’t stop dreaming.”
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