Cincinnati Open

2022 - 8 - 15

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Image courtesy of "Daily Express"

Russian tennis star gets fan draped in Ukraine flag kicked out by ... (Daily Express)

A FAN at the Western & Southern Open was threatened after bringing a Ukrainian flag to a qualifying match.

Lola was also wearing a Ukrainian floral wreath crown known as a vinok and was watching the match silently, making no disruption. The fan in question - Lola - was confronted by a WTA umpire and Cincinnati tournament security on two separate occasions. The spectator in question was later forced to put the flag in her car or be removed from the grounds following “aggressive” encounters with security officials, as she received threats that the police would be called.

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Image courtesy of "ABC News"

Cincinnati Open officials say fan was asked to remove Ukrainian flag ... (ABC News)

One of the Russian pair of Anna Kalinskaya and Anastasia Potapova contesting the Cincinnati Open reportedly complained to the WTA chair umpire, Morgane Lara ...

Video of the incident posted online showed Lara come down from her chair to speak to the fan, who ultimately left the court. - Video of the incident showed the chair umpire come down to speak to the fan, who ultimately left the court During a qualifying match between Russian players Anna Kalinskaya and Anastasia Potapova on Sunday, one of the players reportedly complained to the WTA chair umpire Morgane Lara about the fan, according to reports.

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Image courtesy of "Times Now"

Fan asked to remove Ukraine flag at Cincinnati Open, officials clarify (Times Now)

A fan was asked to remove the flag of Ukraine during a match at Cincinnati Open 2022 following a complaint from a Russian tennis player.

Post the conversation, the fan left the court. Morgane Laracould be seen speaking to the fan. The authorities have now issued a statement clarifying the matter.

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Image courtesy of "Wide World of Sports"

Ukraine flag controversy mars US tennis event (Wide World of Sports)

Tournament organisers at the Cincinnati Open have defended an incident from yesterday, when a fan wearing a...

According to Express UK, the tournament organisers are sticking with that ruling, saying in a statement: "Per the Western & Southern Open's bag policy, as stated on the tournament's website, flags or banners larger than 18 x 18 are prohibited. As such, the woman was asked to return her oversized flag to her vehicle." According to tennis journalist Ben Rothenberg, umpire Morgane Lana approached the woman and said it was "not nice" to be sitting with the flag - to which the fan - named Lola - responded that it was "not nice to invade a country."

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Image courtesy of "Fox Sports"

Fan kicked out of US tennis match between Russian players ... (Fox Sports)

Anna Kalinskaya defeated Anastasia Potapova 7-5 6-1 in the clash but the controversy erupted when one of the players complained about a woman in the crowd who ...

They mentioned free speech, ‘land of the free’, etc, but the marshal was unmoved.” Rothenberg even reported Lola had considered cutting her flag down to size but was escorted to her car where she was told to store the flag and was then allowed to return to the tournament grounds. “Therefore, the patron was asked to remove the flag from the grounds and after doing so was allowed to remain at the tournament. He added: “Other spectators nearby at Court 8 quickly came to Lola’s defence, saying she wasn’t doing anything wrong or saying anything disruptive. Despite sitting there silently, the umpire Morgane Lara confronted Lola and said it was “not nice” to sit with the flag. Anna Kalinskaya defeated Anastasia Potapova 7-5 6-1 in the clash but the controversy erupted when one of the players complained about a woman in the crowd who had a flag and a Ukrainian floral wreath crown known as a vinok, and she was asked to leave the venue.

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