Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk mentioned on Friday it “hurts loads” to see Russian flags on the Australian Open regardless of their ban and was shocked by the dearth of safety that allowed spectators to show flags in and round Melbourne Park.
Novak Djokovic’s father Srdjan mentioned earlier on Friday he wouldn’t attend his son’s semi-final towards Tommy Paul after a video emerged displaying him posing at Melbourne Park with followers holding Russian flags.
Earlier this week, police questioned 4 followers following Djokovic’s quarter-final victory over Andrey Rublev after a video on social media confirmed a fan elevating a Russian flag with President Vladimir Putin’s picture on it.
The flags of Russia and Belarus are banned from Melbourne Park in the course of the Australian Open following a criticism by Ukraine’s ambassador to the nation final week. Belarus is a key terrain for Russia’s conflict in Ukraine, which Moscow calls a “particular operation”.
“It hurts loads as a result of there have been particular guidelines, they had been printed exterior that it isn’t allowed to deliver flags,” Kostyuk advised reporters after withdrawing from the ladies’s doubles competitors with Elena-Gabriela Ruse.
“It is not unimaginable, however you are not allowed to take out flags and so forth. It actually hurts that they’ve been there for some time.
“They have been there on the sector, and within the stands, they usually simply do not fairly perceive. It hurts loads and I do not perceive how that is potential.”
Djokovic will proceed his bid for a 10th Australian Open title and 22nd Grand Slam crown to equal Rafa Nadal when he takes on unseeded American Paul on Friday.
