Jelena Rybakina and Aryna Sabalenka reached the final “super happy” – but perhaps the even bigger topic of conversation at the Australian Open had nothing to do with tennis. On Australia’s national day, Melbourne Park was all about Russia, banned political messages and superstar Novak Djokovic’s father.
In view of these discussions, the women’s semifinals were temporarily pushed into the background. “I don’t know at all what that has to do with Novak,” said Belarusian Viktoria Asarenka after her 6: 7 (4: 7), 3: 6 semifinal defeat against Wimbledon winner Rybakina, visibly annoyed when she was greeted by a journalist the incident was addressed.
These things have “nothing to do with us players, but somehow we players are drawn in again and again”. The Belarusian Sabalenka won 7: 6 (7: 1), 6: 2 against the Pole Magda Linette and can win the Grand Slam tournament under a neutral flag in her first major final on Saturday. That too would have a political dimension.
Pikantes Video
On Thursday, a video caused a stir on the Internet, it could also affect Serbian Djokovic’s preparation for his semi-final against the American Tommy Paul on Friday (9.30 a.m. CET / Eurosport). In it, his father Srdjan Djokovic can be seen posing with others behind a Russian flag with a portrait of Russia’s President Vladimir Putin at Melbourne Park. Next to him is a man wearing a T-shirt with the “Z” character on it. The video was published on a Youtube channel. It is said to have been taken after Djokovic’s quarter-final win over Russia’s Andrei Rublev on Wednesday night.
“Players and their teams have been briefed on the event guidelines regarding flags and symbols and reminded to avoid any situation that has the potential for disruption,” organizer Tennis Australia said in a statement.
And there were incidents the night before. During Djokovic’s game, a fan showed off a t-shirt with the “Z” symbol, which stands for support for Russia including the invasion of Ukraine and is banned at the tournament, along with the Russian and Belarusian flags. After that, four spectators were interrogated by the Australian police because they are said to have “displayed inappropriate flags and symbols and threatened the security staff”, as the organizer said.
Ukraine ambassador enraged
Twitter posts show several spectators waving Russian and Serbian flags after the match, as well as “Serbia! Russia!” shouted. Vasyl Miroshnychenko, the Ukrainian ambassador to Australia, tweeted: “It’s such a shame.”
Unlike Wimbledon, Russian and Belarusian players are allowed to start under a neutral flag in Melbourne. For men, Russian Karen Khachanov will meet Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas in the semifinals on Friday.
In this context, tennis icon Billie Jean King pleaded for the ban to be lifted at the Wimbledon tournament next July. “Life is too short,” said the twelve-time Grand Slam tournament winner from the USA.
The International Olympic Committee has also opened the door a crack and advocated considering a way for athletes from Russia and Belarus to participate in the Paris 2024 Olympics “under strict conditions”.
