WATCH: Fan asked to remove Ukrainian flag during all-Russian clash in Cincinnati
- Michael Schmitt
- 16 August 2022
A spectator at the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati draped in the Ukrainian flag was asked to remove it from the premises after deciding to attend a match between two Russian players.
The spectator, who identified herself as 'Lola', was sitting in the stands of a qualifying match between Russian players Anna Kalinskaya and Anastasia Potapova on Sunday.
She had a large Ukrainian flag draped around her and was also wearing a Ukrainian floral wreath crown known as a vinok.
One of the Russian players complained to chair umpire Morgane Lara, who went over to the fan and asked her to remove the flag, saying it was "not nice" to have it in the stands.
Lola then responded that it was "not nice to invade a country", a reference to the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Some of her fellow spectators reportedly also defended her, though she ultimately left the court after a security official got involved.
Video of some of this incident surfaced hours later on social media, via @trashytennispic.twitter.com/bYlFL38L9X
— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) August 15, 2022
She was later approached on the grounds by the tournament's head of security, who told her the flag was above regulation size.
"Per the Western and Southern Open's bag policy, as stated on the tournament's website, flags or banners larger than 18 x 18 [inches] (46 x 46cm) are prohibited," a spokesperson for the tournament said when asked for comment.
"Therefore, the patron was asked to remove the flag from the grounds and, after doing so, was allowed to remain at the tournament.
"Any inquiries about the chair umpire should be directed to the WTA Tour."
The WTA Tour did not respond to a request for comment.
Russian and Belarusian tennis players have been competing as neutrals, with no mention of their country or flag allowed, since March 1.
