Australian Open 2023: Russia flag ban labelled ‘racist’ as embassy slams decision

The Australian Open flag ban has sparked a vicious response from the Russian embassy and the fan who displayed the controversial banner.

Russian flags spotted in the crowd at the Australian Open during Ukranian Kateryna Baidl’s match.

Russia’s embassy in Australia has hit back at Tennis Australia’s flag ban, calling it “another example of unacceptable politicisation of sports”.

On Tuesday, tournament organisers made the snap decision after a Russian flag was displayed courtside during the opening round match between Russian Kamilla Rakhimova and Ukraine’s Kateryna Baidl.

The ban drew the ire of the Russian embassy and the person responsible displaying the flag, labelling the decision “racist”.

“On top of already discriminating against Russian tennis players with its ‘neutral flag’ policy, Tennis Australia now went further by making sure they can not be visibly supported by their fans,” the Russian embassy said in a statement.

“It is indeed regrettable to see the tournament organisers give in to overt and rather arrogant political manipulation sacrificing the spirit of fair play once inherent to the Australian Open.”

A fan who brought the Russian flag into Melbourne Park, Moscow-born Melburnian Eugene, told the ABC the ban was racist and disputed claims he and his friends had harassed one of the Ukrainian players.

“It’s essentially discrimination and racism against a particular nationality and at the end of the day it’s very unAustralian,” he said.

“We were loud, obnoxious but within means. We didn’t ridicule or intimidate.”

Russian flags spotted in the crowd at the Australian Open during Ukranian Kateryna Baidl’s match.

It comes after Russia’s best tennis player says he is unfazed by Tennis Australia’s day-two flag ban and has vowed to use his platform to promote peace as his home country rages war with Ukraine.

Andrey Rublev, the No.5 seed and major chance to win the Australian Open, wrote “No war please” on a camera during a match only days after Russia invaded Ukraine last February.

After destroying former world No.3 Dominic Thiem 6-3 6-4 6-2 on John Cain Arena, Rublev told News Corp he had consistently campaigned against his country’s actions.

On Tuesday Tennis Australia banned supporters from waving Russian and Belarusian flags at Melbourne Park after the sight of the Russian flag sparked outrage on an outside court.

“I’m completely relaxed with these things (no flags),” Rublev told News Corp.

“I was doing a lot of statements and from my position the only thing I can do is to use the tennis platform to show peace and how it’s important to show these things.”

Andrey Rublev enjoys his win over Dominic Thiem.

But Belarus’ top player, No.5 women’s seed Aryna Sabalenka, declared sport and politics should not mix in the wake of Tennis Australia’s day-two backflip on the flags.

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“I really thought that … sport is nothing to do with politics,” she said after a 6-1 6-4 round 1 victory.

But Sabalenka said given Tennis Australia had already rubber-stamped the ban it was time to simply move on.

“I have zero control on it. What can I say? They did it, OK. No flags, OK,” she said.

“I’m pretty sure they (Ukrainian fans) are upset about (the flags) and if Tennis Australia made this decision to make them feel better, OK.

“They did it. What can I do, OK? I can do nothing.”

Aryna Sabalenka.

The ban followed Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk warning she would not shake hands with opponents from Russia and Belarus who she believed had not done enough to condemn the invasion.

Rublev, 25, passionately hit out when Russians and Belarusians were banned from Wimbledon last year.

“The things that happen now is complete discrimination of us,” he said.

“I am Russian, and I was born in Russia and I’ve lived all my life in Russia, and I just want to show that we are good people.”

AUSTRALIAN OPEN MAKES DECISIVE CALL RUSSIAN, BELARUS FLAGS

Russian and Belarusian flags have been banned at the Australian Open, effective immediately.

Tournament organisers told News Corp on Tuesday morning that the flags had been initially allowed on the grounds at Melbourne Park, while Russian and Belarusian players have been forced to play under a neutral flag in a tough stance against the country’s invasion of Ukraine.

But officials have clamped down following the display of a Russian flag on Court 14 on the tournament’s opening day.

“Flags from Russia and Belarus are banned onsite at the Australian Open,” tournament organisers 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.”

The decision follows desperate pleas from Ukrainians to enforce its neutral flag policy.

Ukraine’s ambassador to Australia Vasyl Myroshnychenko slammed the display of a Russian flag on the opening day of the tournament during a match between Russian Kamilla Rakhimova – who is competing as a neutral under tournament rules – and Ukraine’s Kateryna Baidl.

I strongly condemn the public display of the Russian flag during the game of the Ukrainian tennis player Kateryna Baindl at the Australian Open today. I call on Tennis Australia to immediately enforce its “neutral flag” policy. @[e-mail]/zw8pLN4FIF

— Vasyl Myroshnychenko (@AmbVasyl) January 16, 2023

A group of Rakhimova supporters appeared to display the Russian flag and wore clothing bearing Russian colours during the match on Court 14.

“I strongly condemn the public display of the Russian flag during the game of the Ukrainian tennis player Kateryna Baindl at the Australian Open today,” ambassador Myroshnychenko wrote on social media.

“I call on Tennis Australia to immediately enforce its “neutral flag” policy.”

Former Australian ambassador to Ukraine Doug Trappett also called event organisers out.

“Embarrassing @AustralianOpen – and it’s only day one,” he wrote.

“You could have banned Russian players and positioned yourself to give a robust response to such predictable incidents but you chose spinelessness.

“How painful for Ukrainians – incl. after atrocities by Russia in Dnipro yest.

Other social media users described the display as “extremely hateful” and “disgraceful”.

A number of players including last year’s men’s finalist Daniil Medvedev and Belarusian pair Aryna Sabalenka have been forced to play under a white flag in a move in the wake of Russia’s attacks on Ukraine.

Victoria’s acting Premier Jacinta Allan has welcomed the Australian Open flag ban.

“This is the right move. This is a good move from Tennis Australia,” she said on Tuesday.

“Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is abhorrent. It breaches international human rights obligations. It’s been enabled and supported by Belarus.

“This step is an important one. It sends a very, very clear message that human rights is important, whether it’s in sport, or more broadly in our community.”