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Followers have been barred from displaying Russian and Belarusian flags on the Australian Open after an incident at a match on Monday involving Ukrainian participant Kateryna Baindl.
Russian and Belarusian gamers are allowed to compete on the first grand slam event of 2023, however should accomplish that underneath a impartial banner.
They had been banned by the All England membership from collaborating at Wimbledon final yr in response to Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
Tennis Australia (TA) had initially permitted spectators to deliver Russian and Belarusian flags to Melbourne Park, so long as they didn’t trigger disruption.
However that coverage was reversed on Tuesday morning after a Russian flag was prominently displayed courtside throughout Baindl’s three-set victory over Russian Kamilla Rakhimova, drawing condemnation on social media from Ukraine’s ambassador to Australia Vasyl Myroshnychenko.
“Flags from Russia and Belarus are banned onsite on the Australian Open,” TA stated in a press release.
“Our preliminary coverage was that followers may deliver them in however couldn’t use them to trigger disruption.
“Yesterday we had an incident the place a flag was positioned courtside.
“The ban might be efficient instantly.
“We are going to proceed to work with the gamers and our followers to make sure that that is the absolute best surroundings to benefit from the tennis.”
