CNN
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Andrey Rublev complained to the umpire in his second-round match on the Australian Open on Thursday about followers, who have been holding a Ukrainian flag, of claiming “dangerous issues” to him.
Rublev was taking part in Finland’s Emil Ruusuvuori on the Present Courtroom Enviornment when two followers sitting close to to the 25-year-old Russian’s chair displayed a Ukraine flag.
“It was not concerning the flag,” No. 5 seed Rublev stated after his four-set victory. “I stated straightaway to the referee, it’s not concerning the flag, they will put any flag they need, I perceive fully the scenario.
“It was extra that they began to inform me dangerous phrases and dangerous issues.
“I stated to the referee: ‘It’s not concerning the flag, however please are you able to inform them a minimum of to not say dangerous phrases once I’m on the changeover.’”
Rublev has expressed his opposition to the continuing conflict in Ukraine, signing ‘no conflict, please’ on a digital camera following his win within the Dubai Tennis Championship semifinal in February.
He additionally wrote ‘Peace, Peace, Peace, All we want’ after successful a match on the ATP Finals in November.
In gentle of the conflict in Ukraine, Russian and Belarusian tennis gamers have been permitted to play on the Australian Open however should achieve this “with out flags or nation recognition.”
On Tuesday, Tennis Australia introduced that followers will not be allowed to deliver the Russian or the Belarusian flag onsite on the Australian Open.
The choice comes after Ukraine’s ambassador to Australia “strongly condemn[ed]” the Russian flag being displayed within the stands on the grand slam.
The flag was seen through the first-round match between Ukraine’s Kateryna Baindl and Russia’s Kamilla Rakhimova in Melbourne.
An company photograph additionally reveals the Russian flag on show within the stands through the first-round match between Daniil Medvedev and American Marcos Giron.
Rublev will subsequent play No. 25 seed Dan Evans on Saturday.
