<p>Tennis Australia on Tuesday banned Russian and Belarusian flags at the Australian Open after Ukraine's ambassador demanded action when one was sighted among the crowd.</p>.<p>The red, white and blue stripes of Russia were seen Monday during a first-round clash between Ukraine's Kateryna Baindl and Russia's Kamilla Rakhimova on day one.</p>.<p>"Flags from Russia and Belarus are banned onsite at the Australian Open," Tennis Australia said in a statement.</p>.<p>"Our initial policy was that fans could bring them in but could not use them to cause disruption. Yesterday, we had an incident where a flag was placed courtside.</p>.<p>"The ban is effective immediately. We will continue to work with the players and our fans to ensure the best possible environment to enjoy the tennis."</p>.<p>Since Russia invaded Ukraine, tennis players from the country have competed under a neutral flag, as is the case at the Australian Open.</p>.<p>Ukraine's ambassador to Australia and New Zealand, Vasyl Myroshnychenko, late Monday called on Tennis Australia to take action.</p>.<p>"I strongly condemn the public display of the Russian flag during the game of the Ukrainian tennis player Kateryna Baindl at the Australian Open," he tweeted.</p>.<p>"I call on Tennis Australia to immediately enforce its 'neutral flag' policy."</p>.<p>Baindl won the match 7-5, 6-7, (8/10), 6-1 and will face American Caty McNally in the second round.</p>.<p>Myroshnychenko last week urged the Australian Open to ban Russian and Belarusian players entirely -- the latter due to Belarus' support of Vladimir Putin's invasion.</p>.<p>Wimbledon went down that route last year, with players from Russia and Belarus barred, which led to the tournament being stripped of its ranking points by tennis's governing bodies.</p>
<p>Tennis Australia on Tuesday banned Russian and Belarusian flags at the Australian Open after Ukraine's ambassador demanded action when one was sighted among the crowd.</p>.<p>The red, white and blue stripes of Russia were seen Monday during a first-round clash between Ukraine's Kateryna Baindl and Russia's Kamilla Rakhimova on day one.</p>.<p>"Flags from Russia and Belarus are banned onsite at the Australian Open," Tennis Australia said in a statement.</p>.<p>"Our initial policy was that fans could bring them in but could not use them to cause disruption. Yesterday, we had an incident where a flag was placed courtside.</p>.<p>"The ban is effective immediately. We will continue to work with the players and our fans to ensure the best possible environment to enjoy the tennis."</p>.<p>Since Russia invaded Ukraine, tennis players from the country have competed under a neutral flag, as is the case at the Australian Open.</p>.<p>Ukraine's ambassador to Australia and New Zealand, Vasyl Myroshnychenko, late Monday called on Tennis Australia to take action.</p>.<p>"I strongly condemn the public display of the Russian flag during the game of the Ukrainian tennis player Kateryna Baindl at the Australian Open," he tweeted.</p>.<p>"I call on Tennis Australia to immediately enforce its 'neutral flag' policy."</p>.<p>Baindl won the match 7-5, 6-7, (8/10), 6-1 and will face American Caty McNally in the second round.</p>.<p>Myroshnychenko last week urged the Australian Open to ban Russian and Belarusian players entirely -- the latter due to Belarus' support of Vladimir Putin's invasion.</p>.<p>Wimbledon went down that route last year, with players from Russia and Belarus barred, which led to the tournament being stripped of its ranking points by tennis's governing bodies.</p>