Let’s get one thing straight: Sabalenka is not Vladimir Putin. She is a 26-year-old woman who hits a fuzzy yellow ball for a living. She has publicly stated she does not support the war. She has called it "unfair" and "sad." Yet, she’s caught in the geopolitical crossfire.
The ban was a blanket policy. It doesn’t matter if you’re a pacifist nun or a tennis cyborg. If you hold a Belarusian passport, your flag is gone. It’s a blunt instrument, and it leaves a lot of people feeling awkward. The silence on the court is the sound of politics interfering with our entertainment.
What Would Sabalenka’s Flag Even Look Like?
If we’re dreaming, let’s dream big. Her unofficial flag should be a tennis ball on fire. Or maybe a picture of her famous stare at her player’s box during a tight match. The official Belarusian flag—a red and green design with a white ornament—is actually very pretty. But for her, it’s currently locked in a metaphorical drawer.
The irony is that her personality is too huge to be hidden. Her emotional, funny, and loud interactions with her team are more recognizable than any piece of cloth. The lack of a flag almost makes her more powerful. She represents nothing but herself—and that’s terrifying for the competition.
No country for Aryna Sabalenka: Tennis champion banned from using
