Tennis Australia has banned the flags of Russia and Belarus at the Australian Open after a Russian flag was flown in the stands during a match between Ukraine’s Kateryna Bindl and Russia’s Kamilla Rakhimova, according to ESPN.

Russian flag at Australian Open 2023Photo: Asanka Brendon Ratnayake/AP/Profimedia

The Russian flag was displayed on the fence behind Court 14. This angered Ukraine’s ambassador to Australia and New Zealand, Vasyl Myroshnichenko, who called on Tennis Australia to ban the flag.

“I strongly condemn the public raising of the Russian flag during today’s match of Ukrainian tennis player Kateryna Byndl at the Australian Open. I call on Tennis Australia to immediately implement a ‘neutral flag’ policy” – Vasyl Myroshnychenko on Twitter.

Bindl won the match 7-5, (8)6-7, 6-1 and advanced to the second round.

Myroshnychenko’s comments came hours after another Ukrainian player, Marta Kostyuk, said she would not shake hands with players from Russia or Belarus because she believed they had not done enough to oppose the war on Ukraine.

“I don’t really talk to anyone. I barely say hello to them. I haven’t changed about the war and everything going on in the scheme. Because people who simply say they don’t want war create the impression that we (Ukrainians) want war. Obviously, we don’t want war either” – Marta Kostyuk.

The flags of Russia and Belarus have been banned from the Australian Open 2023

“Flags of Russia and Belarus are prohibited on the Australian Open site. Our original policy was that fans could bring them, but not use them to cause interference. Yesterday we had an incident where a flag was hung near the field.

The ban takes effect immediately. We will continue to work with our players and fans to create the best conditions for enjoying tennis” – Tennis Australia in a statement released on Tuesday.

Players from Russia and Belarus can compete at this year’s Grand Slam in Melbourne, but cannot do so under their country’s flag or name, a practice that has become common in world sport since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.