MELBOURNE, Australia — On Thursday night, during both matches of the women’s semifinals at the Australian Open, geopolitics won in straight sets.
For nearly a year, professional tennis—the most international of sports with its globe-spanning calendar and players from around the globe—has been trying to balance its outspoken opposition to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine with the hope that their competitions will rise above the morass of international politics.
He’s not doing a good job. Geopolitics have been everywhere at the Australian Open and will be on full display in the women’s final.
Eleven months have passed since the sport banned Russia and Belarus from participating in team events in tournaments, as well as any symbols identifying those countries. It’s been nine months since Wimbledon banned players representing Russia and Belarus from competing and it’s unclear if they’ll be able to participate this year. Ukrainian players have lobbied to ban them from all events rather than simply not allowing them to play under their flag or on behalf of their country.
That hasn’t happened, and on Saturday, Elena Rybakina, a Russian native who became a Kazakhstani citizen five years ago in exchange for financial support, and Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus will battle for the women’s singles title.
Rybakina and Sabalenka, who serve powerfully and weaken opponents into submission, played close early sets before claiming victory.
Rybakina defeated Victoria Azarenka, another Belarusian, 7-6(4), 6-3, while Sabalenka defeated Magda Linette of Poland 7-6(1), 6-2. The weather conditions in this tournament (warm temperatures, difficulties to spin the balls, according to the players) have favored those who hit the ball without frills since the first round, which made the final fight between Rybakina and Sabalenka almost inevitable.
The match is sure to reignite the debate over Russian and Belarusian participation in sports, a discussion that has grown increasingly heated in recent days, both at this tournament and around the world. The victories for Rybakina and Sabalenka came hours after videos surfaced of Novak Djokovic’s father, Srdjan, posing with fans who waved a Russian flag, wore the pro-war “Z” logo and declared their support for Russia. , which is against the tournament rules. Serbia and Russia have close historical and cultural ties.
Another video angered the Ukrainian ambassador to Australia and New Zealand, Vasyl Myroshnychenko, who wrote on Twitter: “It’s a complete package. Among the Serbian flags, there is a Russian flag, Putin, the ‘Z’ symbol and the flag of the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic”.
Last week, Tennis Australia, the organizers of the Australian Open, banned fans from displaying in any way the Russian or Belarusian flags or other symbols supporting Russia’s war in Ukraine.
On Thursday, Tennis Australia said four people who waved the banned flags had been detained and questioned by police for displaying the “inappropriate flags” and threatening security guards.
On Wednesday, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) made it clear that it was their intention to have athletes from Russia and Belarus at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. The decision goes against the stated wishes of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who raised the issue with French President Emmanuel Macron a few days ago.
Last year, the IOC recommended that sports federations not allow athletes from those countries to compete, a decision it said protected Olympic sports from national governments in countries that host competitions inserting their policy into sports. Most international sports federations have followed that recommendation, but some have recently relaxed their stance.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the organization stated: “No athlete should be prevented from competing alone because of their passport.” The IOC said it planned to seek “a way for athletes to participate in competitions under strict conditions.” If it follows recent precedent, that will almost certainly mean requiring Russians and Belarusians to compete either under a neutral flag or without a flag at all and in uniforms without their national colors.
Russian and Belarusian athletes could also compete in the Asian Games later this year, which will serve as an Olympic qualifier.
The political currents show no signs of giving up. Wimbledon and the Lawn Tennis Association are discussing whether to let players from Belarus and Russia participate this year. A decision is expected in the coming weeks. Wimbledon was the only Grand Slam tournament that prohibited them from participating.
Djokovic, the defending Wimbledon champion and seven-time championship winner, has been strategizing with his fledgling players’ organization, the Professional Tennis Players Association, to get the ban lifted.
Russian players are desperate to return to the All England Club.
After being defeated by Djokovic in the quarterfinals on Wednesday, fellow tennis player Andrei Rubliov said: “The most recent information I have, from maybe a week ago, is that the announcement will be made in a couple of weeks. We are all waiting. We hope to be able to play. I would love to play. Wimbledon is one of the best tournaments in our sport.”
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