Updated 01/26/2023 16:13
- At the Australian Open, pro-Russian messages brought about a stir, briefly relegating the women’s semifinals to the background.
- There are additionally rumors about Novak Djokovic’s father.
Elena Rybakina and Aryna Sabalenka have been “very pleased” to succeed in the last, however the greater matter of dialog at the Australian Open on Thursday might not have something to do with tennis. On Australia’s nationwide day, Melbourne Park was all about Russia, banned political messages and famous person Novak Djokovic’s father. In gentle of those discussions, the women’s semi-final has been briefly placed on the again burner.
“I do not even know what it is about
Belarus’ Sabalenka defeated Poland’s Magda Linett 7-6 (7-1), 6-2 and will win a Grand Slam underneath a impartial flag in her first main last on Saturday. This will even have a political that means.
A whirlwind video of Djokovic’s father
A video that brought about a stir on the Internet on Thursday might have an effect on Serbian Djokovic’s preparations for Friday’s semi-final towards American Tommy Paul (9.30 CET/Eurosport). In it, his father Srdjan Djokovic could be photographed with others behind a Russian flag with a portrait of Russian President Vladimir Putin in Melbourne Park.
Next to him is a person carrying a shirt with the letter “Z”. The video is posted on YouTube. It is alleged to have been taken after Djokovic’s quarter-final win over Russia’s Andrey Rublev on Wednesday night time.
“Players and their groups have been briefed on the occasion’s tips for flags and symbols and have been warned to keep away from any type of disruption,” organizer Tennis Australia stated in a press release on Thursday.
Incidents occurred at night time. During Djokovic’s match, a fan displayed a shirt with the Russian and Belarusian flags, which have been banned from the event, with the image “Z” symbolizing assist for Russia, together with its invasion of Ukraine. After that, Australian police questioned 4 spectators as a result of they “displayed inappropriate flags and symbols and threatened safety personnel,” in keeping with the organizer.
Russians and Belarusians are allowed to take part
Posts on Twitter confirmed a number of followers waving Russian and Serbian flags after the match, in addition to chants of “Serbia! Russia!” he shouted. Ukraine’s ambassador to Australia, Vasyl Miroshnychenko, tweeted: “This is a disgrace.”
Unlike Wimbledon, Russian and Belarusian gamers are allowed to begin underneath a impartial flag in Melbourne. Russia’s Karen Khachanov will face Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas in the males’s semifinals on Friday.
In this context, tennis icon Billie Jean King has referred to as for the ban to be lifted at Wimbledon subsequent July. “Life is simply too quick,” stated the twelve-time Grand Slam winner from the United States.
The International Olympic Committee additionally opened the door and supported consideration of how for Russian and Belarusian athletes to take part in the Paris 2024 Olympics “underneath strict circumstances”. (dpa/fte)
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