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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsFan wearing Ukraine flag escorted out of Western & Southern Open after Russian player complained
A fan was briefly removed from the Western & Southern Open on Sunday after a Russian player complained to the umpire during their match that the fan was sitting there with a Ukrainian flag draped around her shoulders. During the first set of the qualifying match between Anna Kalinskaya and Anastasia Potapova, both of whom are Russian, on Sunday in Cincinnati, one of the players stopped and complained to umpire Morgane Lane.
The issue, according to Racquet Magazines Ben Rothenberg, had to do with a spectator watching right behind them. The fan, Lola, was apparently just sitting quietly watching the match with the Ukrainian flag around her shoulders and a Ukrainian floral wreath crown. Lane then climbed down from the chair and confronted Lola, saying that her actions were not nice. Lola, per Rothenberg, responded with [its] not nice to invade a country clearly referencing Russias invasion of Ukraine, which has been ongoing for nearly six months now.
The incident escalated from there, and Lola then left the match. Security later found her, and said that her flag was larger than the allowed 18x18 inches which is a policy that is rarely, if ever, enforced. Lola was escorted to the parking lot by security and told that she had to leave it there. The tournament cited the flag-size rule when asked for comment. The WTA has not responded to Rothenberg. Kalinskaya beat Potapova in straight sets 7-5, 6-1. Its unclear which player first complained and how the other responded.
https://news.yahoo.com/fan-wearing-ukraine-flag-escorted-out-of-western-southern-open-after-russian-player-complained-220056717.html
gratuitous
(82,849 posts)Maybe they shouldn't cross borders and just stay home.
mitch96
(13,907 posts)Ilsa
(61,695 posts)sports have umpires.
It's a tennis open, BTW.
Walleye
(31,027 posts)Emile
(22,776 posts)notinkansas
(1,096 posts)Sky Jewels
(7,107 posts)On the other hand, it does draw attention to how it got under the player's skin. Good.