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Russian flags banned from Australian Open

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Russian flags have been banned at the Australian Open after one was displayed at a match between Russian and Ukrainian players.The display drew a sharp rebuke for organisers from the Ukrainian ambassador to Australia, and Tennis Australia has now announced that Russian and Belarusian flags will not be allowed at Melbourne Park for the rest of the tournament.Players from those two countries are playing under a neutral flag at the tournament amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.Somewhat bizarrely, organisers initially decided spectators could bring the two nations' flags in, but displaying one has been deemed causing "disruption".A statement read: "Flags from Russia and Belarus are banned onsite at the Australian Open."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 will be effective immediately. We will continue to work with the players and our fans to ensure that this is the best possible environment to enjoy the tennis."The flag was on show at Monday's first-round match between Russian Kamilla Rakhimova and Kateryna Baindl of Ukraine.Ukrainian ambassador Vasyl Myroshnychenko reacted furiously, writing on Twitter: "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.

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Novak Djokovic hit out on Friday at what he said was a "misinterpretation" of images showing his father posing at the Australian Open with a Russian flag that had Vladimir Putin's face on it.
Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk said on Friday it "hurts a lot" to see Russian flags at the Australian Open despite the ban on them and was surprised by the lapse in security that allowed spectators to display the flags in and around Melbourne Park.
Ukraine's ambassador to Australia on Friday urged tennis officials to ban Novak Djokovic's father from the Australian Open after he was filmed posing with fans holding Russian flags.
SYDNEY: Ukraine’s ambassador to Australia on Friday urged tennis officials to ban Novak Djokovic’s father from the Australian Open after he was filmed posing with fans brandishing Russian flags. “He should be stripped of his accreditation.

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