Flags of Russia and Belarus banned at Australian Open
Melbourne. The national flags of Russia and Belarus have been banned from Melbourne Park during the Australian Open. On the first day of the first Grand Slam of the year, some spectators had arrived with them. Flags can usually be displayed during matches at Melbourne Park. Tennis Australia, however, changed that policy for these two countries due to the military invasion of Ukraine. “Our basic policy is that fans can bring flags but not use them to cause disruption,” Tennis Australia said in a statement. . We will continue to do our best to provide the best environment together with the players and fans.
A Russian flag is shown after Ukraine’s Kateryna Bendel’s victory over Russia’s Kamila Rakhimova. Apart from this, after the victory of Russian player Daniil Medvedev on Monday, the Russian flag was put forward for autograph from him. Asked about the ban, Belarus player Arina Sabalenka said sport should be kept separate from politics but she understood Tennis Australia’s decision. Sabalenka is among the players from Russia and Belarus who were barred from Wimbledon, the Billie Jean King Cup and the Davis Cup last year. Russia invaded Ukraine in February last year with the help of Belarus.