Australian Open safety FARCE as fan who wore Russia’s ultra-nationalist ‘Z’ war symbol during Novak Djokovic’s quarter-final is allowed to RETURN to courtside two days later for his semi-final
The tennis fan who brandished Russia’s ultra-nationalist ‘Z’ war symbol on the Australian Open on Wednesday has returned to the Rod Laver Arena in a serious safety farce for event organisers.
There was uproar earlier this week when a male spectator was pictured carrying a black T-shirt with the white letter ‘Z’ emblazoned on the entrance.
However, he was seen carrying the identical ‘Djokovic, Jordan, Messi’ white T-shirt that he had worn over the black ‘Z’ T-shirt on Wednesday evening. Security officers have been seen talking with the person however determined to permit him to stay on the venue to observe Novak Djokovic cruise to a straight-sets victory.
The Australian Open has been hit by a safety farce after the male spectator who wore an ultra-nationalist Russian T-shirt on Wednesday returned to Rod Laver Arena
A white ‘Z’ letter symbolises ultra-nationalist obeisance to Russian president Vladimir Putin. The male spectator was seen carrying a T-shirt with the identical symbol on Wednesday
Tennis Australia condemned the scenes witnessed during Novak Djokovic’s quarter-final conflict with Andrey Rublev – by which a small group of followers waved flags printed with Vladimir Putin’s face at Melbourne Park – however the identical fan was noticed again at Rod Laver Arena for Djokovic’s semi-final towards Tommy Paul.
The letter ‘Z’ has change into a symbol of ultra-nationalist obeisance to Russian president Vladimir Putin as he wages his war on Ukraine. It has been seen sprayed in white on the facet of Russian tanks as they’ve invaded their neighbouring nation.
Organisers final week banned Russian and Belarusian flags from the venue at some point of the event after one was held up at a match between Russian and Ukrainian gamers, whereas objects of clothes that showcase a white letter ‘Z’ are amongst a listing of prohibited objects on the Australian Open.
The ‘Z’ symbol is amongst numerous objects banned from this yr’s Australian Open
The fan in query displayed the three-finger salute, a nationalist symbol for Serbia
Novak Djokovic’s father was seen with a pro-Russia advocate after his quarter-final win
Fresh questions will likely be requested of event organisers as to how such a safety failure may happen, in every week the place the occasion has been dominated by off-court geopolitical points.
Djokovic’s father, Srdjan, was filmed posing with supporters of Russian president Vladimir Putin exterior Melbourne Park on Wednesday evening.
He opted to steer clear of Rod Laver Arena on Friday as to not distract from his son’s match and maintains he had ‘no intentions of being caught up on this.’
Victoria Azarenka engaged in a frosty trade with a tennis reporter on the Australian Open
The Australian Open girls’s ultimate will likely be performed amid a tense political backdrop in Melbourne
Belarusian star Victoria Azarenka additionally shared a frosty trade with a tennis reporter after her semi-final defeat by Russian-born Elena Rybakina, insisting that gamers shouldn’t be requested questions of a geopolitical nature.
‘Whatever the reply I’m going to provide it to you proper now, it will be turned whichever approach you wish to flip it to,’ she mentioned.
‘So does it trouble me? What bothers me is there’s actual issues that is happening on the planet. I do not know. Are you a politician? Are you? Are you overlaying politics?’
The girls’s singles ultimate will likely be performed amid a tense political backdrop with Rybakina taking up Belarus’ Arnya Sabalenka in Melbourne.
