- Despite leading the betting markets, Sabalenka and Andreeva continue to compete under flag bans due to a policy stemming from the Ukraine conflict.
- Critics argue the flag ban applies unevenly, singling out athletes from Russia and Belarus while others from conflict-involved nations face no such restrictions.
PARIS – As Aryna Sabalenka, Mirra Andreeva, and Alexander Bublik advance into the quarterfinals of the 2025 French Open, the continued ban on national flags for Russian and Belarusian athletes is drawing renewed scrutiny.
While players from other countries, including those with complex geopolitical histories, compete under their national banners, Sabalenka and Andreeva remain listed as “neutral,” prompting calls for policy reassessment from within and beyond the tennis world.
The International Tennis Federation (ITF), along with the WTA and ATP tours, instituted the flag ban in 2022 following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and Belarus’s role in supporting the conflict. The decision was meant as a statement of solidarity with Ukraine and a sanction against Russian and Belarusian state representation.
However, with three years having passed and players like Sabalenka and Andreeva continuing to compete independently of any official national mandate, the ban disproportionately penalizes individuals for the actions of governments they do not control.
Rising Stars, Absent Flags
Sabalenka, the world No. 1, top seed in Paris, and the French Open betting favorite, has been dominant throughout the tournament, not dropping a set en route to the quarterfinals. Listed at +250 odds to win it all, the Belarusian has a 35-6 record this year.
Andreeva, an 18-year-old rising star from Russia, has also reached the final eight. Her 2024 semifinal run and recent WTA 1000 titles in Dubai and Indian Wells have elevated her status in the sport. She enters her quarterfinal matchup against Lois Boisson with +550 odds to win the tournament.
The flag ban has had no measurable impact on legal sports betting markets. Sabalenka, Andreeva, and Bublik remain strong draws for tennis sportsbooks with Sabalenka in particular seeing significant betting volume.
Still, the absence of national identifiers removes an emotional element for fans and bettors who often tie athlete performance to national pride.
The Case for Reinstatement
Opponents of the flag ban argue that it selectively enforces geopolitical consequences on a narrow group of athletes while others from nations involved in armed conflicts face no such restrictions. For example, players from the United States, United Kingdom, and Israel continue to compete under their national flags despite those countries’ past or ongoing military involvements.
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Advocates for change argue that tennis should return to a policy of neutrality in politics while maintaining its core focus on individual merit and performance.
So far, the ITF and tournament organizers have not indicated any intention to revise the policy. Officials continue to cite the need to uphold solidarity with Ukraine and prevent any form of state representation for the aggressor nations.
However, with athletes from Russia and Belarus continuing to perform at the sport’s highest level and public support for lifting the ban growing more visible, pressure is mounting for governing bodies to revisit the decision ahead of future Grand Slams.
If Sabalenka or Andreeva go on to win the 2025 French Open title, it would mark the second year in a row that a Grand Slam champion would be crowned without a national flag.
