Tennis Australia defends decision to allow Russian and Belarusian players to compete at 2023 Australian Open

Tennis Australia has rejected calls for players from Russia and Belarus to be banned from the 2023 Australian Open, allowing players including Russia's Daniil Medvedev to compete as neutral athletes at this month's tournament.

Figures including Ukrainian Ambassador to Australia Vasyl Myroshnychenko and former Federal Sports Minister Richard Colbeck had called for the ban over Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine, which is supported by Belarus.

Tournament Director and Tennis Australia Chief Executive Craig Tiley confirmed at this week's Australian Open launch that the tournament would follow the decision of the ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) to allow Russian and Belarusian players to compete.

Tiley advised "at this point, Russian and Belarusian players will be eligible to play in the Australian Open, and they, like every other player, will have to go through the (entry) process.

“The only difference will be that they cannot represent Russia - cannot represent the flag of Russia.

“They cannot participate in any activity such as the anthem of Russia and they have to play as independent players under a neutral name. But they will be welcome to the Australian Open in January.”

Tennis’ governing bodies, the ATP and Women's Tennis Association (WTA), have expressed their “distress, shock and sadness” at the war in Ukraine but have allowed Russian and Belarusian athletes to continue competing if they do so under a neutral flag.

Ukrainian ambassador Myroshnychenko was opposed to the idea of letting Russians play, saying organisers should stand in solidarity with the country.

He advised "Russia manipulates sport and sportspeople to project an image to the world, just as Nazi Germany did.

"They engage in massive doping programs to buy sporting success as part of their propaganda.

"When we allow sportspeople from Russia to participate in the Australian Open, we do exactly what (Russian President) Putin wants.

"It doesn't matter what flag Russian Federation players compete under ... it has Ukrainian blood on it."

ATP and WTA events in both countries were banned and the respective nations' tennis bodies were also excluded from the International Tennis Federation.

Last year saw the ATP and WTA fine the Lawn Tennis Association and All England Lawn Tennis Club for banning Russian and Belarusian players from Wimbledon 2022 - also striping the tournament from its ranking points.

Image: Russia's former world number one Daniil Medvedev at the 2022 Australian Open. Credit: Shutterstock.