the Belarusian first “without a flag” of tennis – Corriere.it

The Australian Open raise the white flag: Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka in fact, it won the 2023 edition beating Elena Rybakina in comeback, Russian naturalized Kazakh, in three sets with the score of 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 in 2h28′ of play.

Technically, after the ban on Russian and Belarusian athletes – or fortunately only their flags – following the invasion of Ukraine decided by Moscow (with the support of Minsk), it is the first time that a Grand Slam tournament is awarded not to a national flag, but to a neutral champion, stateless person. The Daily Mail has not failed to underline that Sabalenka is of a nationality that should not be pronounced in the international sports forum.

Last summer Wimbledon instead banned athletes from Russia and Belarus, and the Kazakh Rybakina from Moscow won exactly (final against Ons Jabeur).

For Sabalenka, 24, number 5 in the WTA ranking, this is the first Grand Slam of her career. The goal was achieved at the fourth match point and, at the time of the award ceremony, with the trophy received from Billie Jean King, the Belarusian appeared excited: I’m still shaking, great to receive the trophy from you, thank you for what you did for our sport.