From Russia with kid gloves: Australian Open won’t ban any players

Tennis Australia will allow Russian players to compete in the Australian Open in line with international standards despite calls to ban them.

Russia’s world No.7 Daniil Medvedev will be allowed to compete in this year’s Australian Open but only as a neutral player. Picture: Getty Images

Tennis Australia will allow Russian players to compete in the Australian Open under a “neutral” flag, despite calls from Ukrainian ambassador Vasyl Myroshnychenko to ban the athletes in solidarity with his war-torn country.

Russian players, including world No.7 Daniil Medvedev – who was beaten by Rafael Nadal at last year’s Open final – Andrey Rublev and Daria Kasatkina are all expected to compete as neutral players at the grand slam starting on January 16.

While some international tennis competitions have allowed Russians to play, Wimbledon last year had a blanket ban from all players from the authoritarian country, whether they adopted a neutral banner or not.

A Tennis Australia spokeswoman condemned the nation’s “actions and its unprovoked invasion of Ukraine”, but said Russian would be able to compete.

“Players from Russia and Belarus are only able to compete in international tennis events as individuals – and without flags or country recognition – which will be the case for Australian Open 2023,” she said. “Tennis Australia is acting in accordance with the position and principles outlined in the statement by the Australian Sports Minister, who previously joined more than 30 counterparts from like-minded nations to show solidarity with the people of Ukraine.”

After his second-round win at the Adelaide International, Medvedev did not address the issue of Ukraine directly. But the Russian star said he would obey any rules set by Tennis Australia and that he wanted to be in Melbourne to play for his fans.

“I can just follow the rules as a player,” he said. “It has always been the same. When we were banned from Wimbledon, I couldn’t play so I didn’t play.

“I’m a tennis player so all the tournaments I can play all over the world I’m happy to play, I’m happy to show up, to play for the fans and that’s the only thing I can do.”

Mr Myroshnychenko called for the sporting organisation to ban Russian players after he returned from a visit to his country’s devastated capital of Kyiv last week, and asked why event organisers would welcome Russian athletes to the biggest tournament on the country’s sporting calendar in January following the “genocide” of his people.

“For Ukrainians, any participation of a Russian athlete is a red flag,” he said. “We believe that democratic countries, and especially countries like Australia, which is supporting Ukraine, should be adamant on their stance on this. (Their) flag is tainted in Ukrainian blood.

“Russian citizens, Russian soldiers at a massive scale are committing genocide against the Ukrainian people and now (Ukrainian athletes) may be sharing a court with Russian players.”

A spokeswoman for the federal government said the decision to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to play in the grand slam “lies with Tennis Australia”.

“We welcome Tennis Australia ensuring that players from Russia and Belarus are not competing under their flags,” she said. “The Australian government has been clear in its strong preference that any such participation accord with the second statement on Russia’s war on Ukraine and International Sport. The invasion of Ukraine is an abhorrent violation of international law and the Charter of the United Nations.” Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley said in October Russian and Belarusian players would be allowed to play as neutral athletes at the tournament, but not under their flags.

At the time, he said: “They cannot participate in any activity such as the anthem of Russia and they have to play as independent players under a neutral name. But they will be welcome to the Australian Open in January.”

The Association of Tennis Professionals and the Women’s Tennis Association penalised Wim-bledon in May last year by stripping ranking points from the tournament over a decision to ban Russian and Belarusian players, and the Australian Open could face the same punishment.

Ukrainian players due to compete in the Open include Anhelina Kalinina, Nadiia and Lyuda Kichenok, Marta Kostyuk, Lesia Tsurenko and Dayana Yastremska.

Mr Myroshnychenko said participation of the Russian players should be in the public domain.

“I was in Kyiv last week,” he said. “Half of the city is in blackout.

“Russians have destroyed 50 per cent of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. There is no heating and water in many, many buildings right throughout the country. And this is winter time. Sport is political, and sport is politics. So for every country, especially for authoritarian countries, to demonstrate success of their athletes is extremely important.”

In a statement released on Wednesday, the Ukrainian ambassador said Russia “manipulates” sport and forces athletes to engage in doping programs.

Spanish veteran Rafael Nadal will be joined by Australia’s Alex de Minaur and other players at a January 11 charity event in support of Ukraine called Tennis Plays for Peace.