- Certain players at the Australian Open can’t compete under their nation’s flag
- Returning champion Aryna Sabalenka has a ‘blue flag’ when she competes
Aryna Sabalenka commenced her title defence at the Australian Open this week – and fans have noticed a strange detail about the way she’s been presented on broadcasts of the grand slam.
Sabalenka has started her quest for a third consecutive title in Melbourne with a commanding victory over Sloane Stephens in the first round and a second-set comeback to defeat Jessica Bouzas Maneiro in her next match.
However, the flag of Belarus has been noticeably missing from the graphic next to her name, instead replaced with a simple blue rectangle.
It’s the third year that the Grand Slam has ruled that Russian and Belarusian players can’t play under their nation’s flag because of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.
Previously, the tournament’s neutral flag was white, but since 2024 it has been blue in colour.
‘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,’ Tennis Australia said before the 2023 event.
Belarusian powerhouse Aryna Sabalenka competes under a ‘blue flag’ at the Australian Open
Russian and Belarusian flags are banned from the Grand Slam due to the war in Ukraine
‘Tennis Australia stands united with the international governing bodies of tennis – the grand slams, the ATP and WTA Tours and the ITF – in its condemnation of Russia’s actions and its unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.’
Belarus falls under the ban because it allowed Russia to use its territory as a launchpad for the invasion in 2022.
On Wednesday, Sabalenka spoke about how she feels not being able to represent her nation at the tournament, saying ‘It is how it is’.
‘I was always proud to represent Belarus in terms of it’s a small country and I made it from very small country. It’s not like I was practising in the States or in Spain,’ she said.
‘I felt like I was kind of an inspiration for the next generation. I was kind of motivating people from there, like tennis athletes.’
The two-time champion added: ‘If they’re going to bring it [Belarus flag] back, I’m going to be happy. If not, it’s OK.’
Sabalenka’s name has been engraved on the Daphne Akhurst Memorial trophy for the past two years – but unlike other champions, her nation has not been written alongside it.
The tournament’s policy is to only allow flags to be flown at matches when they’re from the nations of the players who are competing – however, Russian and Belarusian flags are banned regardless of who is playing.
Earlier in the week, the Australian Open was accused of going soft on pro-Palestine protestors who have been accused of breaking the tournament’s rules this year.
The tennis star says she hopes to compete under her flag again someday
Australian Open boss Craig Tiley stated that anyone waving a flag banned at the Grand Slam would be removed from the venue or arrested by police.
The rules extend to anyone ‘displaying material intended to disrupt, offend, vilify or that is political in nature’.
However, photos have emerged from the event this week of fans wearing shirts with pro-Palestine messages.
Australian Jewish Association chief executive Robert Gregory said it was an obvious breach of the rules set out by officials.
‘The rules should be applied equally to everyone,’ he told News Corp.
‘There should not be an exception for Palestinian activists.
‘Australians have been confronted by anti-Israel protests and disruptions to our cities for over a year.
‘The last place Australians want to see this is at the tennis.’
