CNN —
The Ambassador of Ukraine in Australia has “condemned in the strongest possible terms[ed]” the Russian flag to be displayed in the stands at the Australian Open.
The flag was seen during the first round match between Ukraine’s Kateryna Baindl and Russia’s Kamilla Rakhimova in Melbourne.
In light of the war in Ukraine, Russian and Belarusian tennis players are allowed to play at the Australian Open but must do so “without flags or country recognition”.
“I strongly condemn the public display of the Russian flag during today’s Australian Open match by Ukrainian tennis player Kateryna Baindl,” said Vasyl Myroshnychenko wrote on Twitter on Monday, alongside a photo showing the flag on display.
“I call on Tennis Australia to immediately enforce its ‘neutral flag’ policy.”
It is unclear who was responsible for showing the flag during the game.
A photo by the agency also shows the Russian flag seen in the stands during the first-round match between Daniil Medvedev and USA’s Marcos Giron.
CNN contacted Tennis Australia but did not receive an immediate response.
Baindl won the match 7-5 6-7(10-8) 6-1 and will face American Caty McNally in the second round.
The sport of tennis’ response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine has been a point of contention over the past year.
Last year Wimbledon organizers banned Russian and Belarusian athletes from participating in the tournament in the face of “unjustified and unprecedented military aggression,” according to a statement released in April.
The ATP and WTA Tours, the governing bodies of men’s and women’s tennis, later responded by stripping Wimbledon of ranking points in what they saw as “discrimination” against Russian and Belarusian players.
After her first-round win at the Australian Open, Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk said she would not shake hands with rivals Russia and Belarus, who she says have not done enough to speak out against the invasion.