"I want to ask for peace in the world, every kid shouldn't stop dreaming" - Daniil Medvedev delivers powerful message amid Russia-Ukraine crisis
Daniil Medvedev recently took to Instagram to send across a heartfelt message to his fans. The Russian encouraged his supporters to stay strong and keep their dreams alive no matter what, while also using his platform to call for peace between Russia and Ukraine.
After last month's Australian Open final, Medvedev expressed his disappointment with the home crowd, who actively rooted against him during his match against Rafael Nadal. He claimed that "the kid had stopped dreaming," implying that he found very little motivation to keep moving forward in his career.
Medvedev, however, appears to have regained motivation thanks to his newly-minted World No. 1 status. Considering how his dream has remained intact, the Russian saw fit to urge his fans not to give up on their goals of a healthy and prosperous life.
He also spoke out against the Russia-Ukraine conflict on social media earlier on Sunday, asserting how everyone in the world deserves to feel "great emotions" and not fear.
"Do you all remember what I have said after the Australian Open final? This story was just about me, my childhood dreams. And today I want to speak on behalf of every kid in the world," Medvedev wrote on Instagram. "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."
He went on to call for peace, before insisting that emotions like love, safety, and justice need to be preserved in these difficult times. Towards the end of his powerful message, he stressed that "every kid shouldn't stop dreaming."
"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. #kiddontstopdreaming," he added.
Daniil Medvedev is scheduled to play at the Indian Wells Masters next
The World No. 1 is next scheduled to play at the Indian Wells Masters in March. He hasn't gone beyond the round of 16 in his four previous appearances at the ATP 1000 tournament.
The Russian will be joined in the Californian desert by fellow top-10 players Alexander Zverev, Rafael Nadal, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Andrey Rublev, Matteo Berrettini and Felix Auger-Aliassime. World No. 2 Novak Djokovic, meanwhile, will miss likely the hardcourt event due to vaccine mandates in the United States.