What the Grand Slam tournament in Melbourne wanted to avoid at all costs has now happened: viewers close to Putin openly show their sympathy for Russia. Srdjan Djokovic also irritated with an appearance.
Von
Gerald Kleffmann, Melbourne
On January 17, the Grand Slam tournament in Melbourne was already on its second day, the organizer published a statement: “Flags from Russia and Belarus are prohibited at the Australian Open locally,” said the Tennis Australia Association. This measure was triggered by an incident in a match in the first round. When the Ukrainian Kateryna Baindl played against the Russian Kamilla Rakhimova, she was provoked by the Russian’s supporters with a Russian flag. Baindl won, but the Ukrainian ambassador to Australia, Vasyl Myroshnychenko, demanded an extra game from the organizers. Which also happened.
