World No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka is among the athletes competing at the Australian Open 2024 who are not flying their national flag.
The current Australian Open champion’s hometown and the reason for her name not having a flag next to it are explained by Sporting News.
Aryna Sabalenka successfully defended her Australian Open title and added a second Grand Slam trophy to her collection on Saturday, defeating Zheng Qinwen, the 12th seed from China, 6-3 6-2.
The second seed from Belarus has hardly stepped foot in her favorite hunting ground, as she became the first female champion to hold the Melbourne Park title since her countrymate Victoria Azarenka in 2013.
At the first major of the year, Sabalenka entered the match having not dropped a set, and she continued to play flawlessly to join Ash Barty, Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova, and Lindsay Davenport in the select group of players who have accomplished the accomplishment since 2000. She used fierce ground moves to seize the last one by the scruff of the neck.
where she was born?
The 25-year-old Sabalenka was raised in Minsk, the capital of Belarus, and has experience competing internationally while flying the Belarusian flag.
Sabalenka is not allowed to compete at the Australian Open under the Belarusian flag, along with competitors from Russia and Belarus. This is the reason why:
Why are tennis players playing without a flag or under a white flag?
The Australian Open has announced that, for the third year running, tennis players from Belarus and Russia may compete, but only as long as they do not fly their national flag or use their national names on their uniforms or in media coverage.
Tennis Australia released a statement before the Australian Open 2023 stating, “Players from Russia and Belarus are only able to compete in international tennis events as individuals – and without flags or country recognition.
Ranking of Aryna Sabalenka
At the Australian Open in 2024, Aryna Sabalenka is rated second in the world right now and is the second seed.
After a stellar year in which she advanced to the US Open final and won the Australian Open, she was ranked as high as No. 1 in the world in September 2023.
Sabalenka also advanced to the French Open and Wimbledon semifinals in 2023; the 2022 French Open was the last major tournament in which she failed to reach the semifinals.
In 2024, where will be the Australian Open?
In the Australian Open final of 2024, Aryna Sabalenka will play Zheng at Melbourne Park’s Rod Laver Arena. In the Australian Open women’s singles final at Melbourne Park’s Rod Laver Arena, Aryna Sabalenka will compete against Zheng Qinwen.
How can I watch the US Open in Australia in 2024?
ESPN will broadcast every Australian Open singles match that is still in progress for tennis fans in the US. You can watch the match using a live TV streaming service if you don’t have a cable or satellite TV subscription. ESPN is available on all five of the main services.
Where can I get free streaming of the Australian Open?
The Free Trial of DirecTV Stream is the Best Option Overall to Watch the Australian Open Finals.
Fubo’s Free Trial is the Best Free Trial Option to Watch the Australian Open Finals.
Sling Orange is the Best Affordable Option to Watch the Australian Open Finals.