Russian flags banned at Australian Open following criticism from Ukrainian ambassador

Move comes after fan displays Russian flag during Kamilla Rakhimova's first-round match against Ukraine's Kateryna Baindl on Monday

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Russian flags have been banned from the Australian Open after a fan's decision to display one during the opening day of tennis at Melbourne Park drew strong criticism from the Ukrainian ambassador.

As in many other sports, Russian and Belarusian tennis players are competing under a neutral banner at this year's tournament due to the ongoing invasion of Ukraine. Fans had initially been allowed to show their support for players from both countries, but not in a way that could cause disruption", according to Tennis Australia (TA).

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