The Australian tennis federation banned the Russian and Belarusian flags from the Australian Open venue on Tuesday after a protest by the Ukrainian ambassador, who saw the symbols of those countries in the stands.
Russia’s red, white and blue striped flag appeared in the stands during the first-round match between Ukraine’s Kateryna Baindl and Russia’s Kamilla Rakhimova on Monday.
“The flags of Russia and Belarus are prohibited within the Australian Open,” Tennis Australia said in a statement.
“Our initial policy was that fans could bring them, but they couldn’t use them to disrupt. Yesterday we had an incident where a Russian flag was put up next to the track”, he indicated.
“The ban is effective immediately. We will continue to work with the players and the fans to ensure the best possible environment to enjoy tennis,” he added.
Since the war launched by Moscow against Ukraine, tennis players from Russia and also from Belarus, a country that supported the invasion, compete with a neutral flag, as is the case in the Melbourne Grand Slam.
Ukrainian Ambassador to Australia and New Zealand Vasyl Myroshnychenko called on Tennis Australia on Monday night to take action against the display of these flags.
“We strongly condemn the public display of the Russian flag during Ukrainian tennis player Kateryna Baindl’s match at the Australian Open,” he tweeted.
“I call on Tennis Australia to immediately implement its ‘neutral flag’ policy,” he added.
The Ukrainian won the match 7-5, 6-7 (8/10), 6-1 and will face American Caty McNally in the second round.
Ambassador Myroshnychenko had requested last week that the tournament completely ban players from Russia and Belarus from participating.
Wimbledon opted for this measure last year and banned players from these two countries in the tournament, which as a result did not count for the rankings by decision of the ATP and WTA. (D)
Source: Eluniverso
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