Aryna Sabalenka is set to play against Elina Svitolina in the Women’s Singles semi-final at the 2026 Australian Open today. If she wins, it will mark her fourth consecutive Australian Open final, a remarkable achievement in her career.
However, there is something unusual about Sabalenka at this tournament. Even though she is currently the world’s number 1 player, she is competing without a country flag next to her name. In tennis, players usually have their country flag displayed during matches, but Sabalenka is officially listed as a neutral athlete.
This “neutral” status applies to players from Belarus and Russia. They have been facing international sports sanctions because of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. These sanctions prevent them from officially representing their countries at major international events, including tennis tournaments like the Australian Open.
Despite not being able to play under her country’s flag, Sabalenka continues to perform at the highest level and remains one of the top contenders for the title. Tennis fans around the world are closely watching to see if she can make it to the final once again.