MELBOURNE - Tennis Australia on Tuesday banned Russian and Belarusian flags at the Australian Open after Ukraine’s ambassador demanded action when one was sighted among the crowd.
The red, white and blue stripes of Russia were seen Monday during a first-round clash between Ukraine’s Kateryna Baindl and Russia’s Kamilla Rakhimova on day one.
“Flags from Russia and Belarus are banned onsite at the Australian Open,” Tennis Australia said in a statement.
“Our initial policy was that fans could bring them in but could not use them to cause disruption. Yesterday, we had an incident where a flag was placed courtside.
“The ban is effective immediately. We will continue to work with the players and our fans to ensure the best possible environment to enjoy the tennis.”
Since Russia invaded Ukraine, tennis players from the country have competed under a neutral flag, as is the case at the Australian Open.
Ukraine’s ambassador to Australia and New Zealand, Vasyl Myroshnychenko, on Monday called on Tennis Australia to take action.
“I strongly condemn the public display of the Russian flag during the game of the Ukrainian tennis player Kateryna Baindl at the Australian Open,” he tweeted.
“I call on Tennis Australia to immediately enforce its ‘neutral flag’ policy.”
Baindl won the match 7-5, 6-7 (8-10), 6-1 and will face American Caty McNally in the second round.
The Victorian state government has also welcomed the flag ban.
“Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is abhorrent,” acting premier Jancinta Allan said, as quoted by the BBC.
“It breaches international human rights obligations. It’s been enabled and supported by Belarus.
“(This) sends a very, very clear message that human rights is important, whether it’s in sport, or more broadly in our community.”
Myroshnychenko last week urged the Australian Open to ban Russian and Belarusian players entirely – the latter due to Belarus’ support of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion.
Wimbledon went down that route last year, with players from Russia and Belarus barred, which led to the tournament being stripped of its ranking points by tennis’s governing bodies.
Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka said she understood how the display of the flags of the two countries might upset Ukrainian players.
“I really thought that sport is nothing to do with politics but if everyone feels better this way, then it’s okay,” the fifth seed told reporters after her first-round win over Tereza Martincova on Tuesday.
“If Tennis Australia made this decision to make them feel better, okay. They did it, what can I do? I can do nothing.”
Ukraine’s No. 2 Marta Kostyuk told Reuters on Monday that she would not shake hands with tour rivals from Russia and Belarus who she feels have not done enough to speak out against the invasion. AFP, REUTERS
