Ukrainian ex-tennis star releases fiery statement after Russian player got fan kicked out

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A Ukrainian former pro has responded after it emerged that a fan was forced to leave a qualifying match at the Cincinnati Open when a Russian player complained about her Ukraine flag. Alexandr Dolgopolov issued a fiery statement calling on more tennis fans to bring the flag to Russian and Belarusian players’ matches as he spoke about his country “drowning in blood”.

Dolgopolov, who is currently fighting in the war with Russia, has responded after a fan at the Western & Southern Open was kicked out of a tennis match for bringing a Ukrainian flag to a match between two Russian players – one of whom complained – and was later approached by the head of security who made her leave the flag in her car for being over the allowed size, despite the tournament reportedly failing to enforce this rule in the past.

A security official on Court 8 for the all-Russian clash between Anna Kalinskaya and Anastasia Potapova became “aggressive” with Lola – the spectator in question – while WTA umpire Morgane Lara said it was “not nice” to have the flag in the stands. The former world No 13 has now hit out at the tours and urged more fans to bring Ukrainian flags to matches.

“To all the people who admired my tennis and planning to visit the US tournaments, I ask to bring a Ukraine flag to all russian or bellorusian matches they watch,” Dolgopolov – who became a military volunteer when the war in Ukraine began – tweeted.

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“And I dare the @atptour @WTA to try this step again. Repost please”. The three-time title winner also shared an emotional message about the invasion of his home country as he continued: “Our country is drowning in blood and barbaric violence, no russian will bully a silent supporter wearing a Ukraine flag! Have some respect.”

Dolgopolov also urged fans to check the size requirements for flags at tournaments after the Western & Southern Open released a statement in response to the incident saying: “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.”

The tournament failed to respond to the initial issue in question – that a Russian player was unhappy with the presence of Lola’s flag – and it was noted that fans had brought American and Serbian flags over the size limit in the past.

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Dolgopolov claimed the tournament was giving a “fairy tale” excuse as he added: “P.s- keep the flags in the policy requirement, so they have no “fairy tale” reason to ask you to leave”. It’s not the first time the former pro has spoken out on tennis’ response to the war in Ukraine.

After Wimbledon banned all Russian and Belarusian players from competing at the tournament this year and had their ranking points removed by the ATP and WTA as a sanction, he blasted the men’s tour and said: “Everyone has to feel [the sacrifice] because everyone in Ukraine is feeling it.

“Our people, our children, are dying and you cannot just close your eyes and be silent and pretend nothing is happening. Everyone has to try and play their role to help and the ATP should have a stronger stance like many others sports. The magnitude of what is happening here is not [reflected] by their actions. Their actions are weaker.”

Express Sport has contacted the Western & Southern Open regarding Dolgopolov’s statement.

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