WTA Breaks Silence After Russian Flag Displayed on Screen During ATX Open Match

The WTA and the ATP have allowed the Russian and Belarusian players to compete as neutral athletes.

WTA Breaks Silence After Russian Flag Displayed on Screen During ATX Open Match

Russian flag was displayed during an ATX Open match (Image via X/ATX Open)

In Short
  • The Russian flag was displayed during Oksana Selekhmeteva's match at the ATX Open, causing confusion.
  • The WTA stated the flag's appearance was due to a technical error, maintaining their policy against displaying it.
  • Defending champion Jessica Pegula withdrew from the ATX Open due to a left knee injury.

The Russian flag was displayed beside Oksana Selekhmeteva‘s name when she was competing in the first round of the ATX Open against Alycia Parks. Selekhmeteva clinched the win in three sets and later defeated Kamilla Rakhimova to reach the quarterfinals.

When she was playing, the Russian flag was surprisingly displayed on the screen. The WTA as well as the ATP have banned displaying the Russian and the Belarusian flags from the players’ profiles following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Players from both these countries, however, are not banned from competing as neutral athletes. So when the Russian flag was displayed, it caused confusion, and the reason was questioned by many, including Punto de Break journalist Jose Moron.

It seems that the WTA is already displaying the Russian flag for players from that country. The ATP, for the moment, is not doing so. I find the WTA’s criteria to be quite inconsistent when it comes to making decisions of this magnitude. In the case of Shuai Peng, they decided not to compete in China until the matter was resolved. A couple of years later, with it still unresolved, they decided to return to playing there. With this, more of the same.

Jose Moron wrote on X

Check out his post here:

Moron, however, contacted the WTA later and found out the reason behind it. He later gave an update on X, saying WTA claimed this happened due to a technical error.

I just confirmed with the WTA itself that their policy of not displaying the Russian flag has not changed. If the flag was seen in any match (or the Ukrainian one was not seen) it is due to a technical error. Everything will continue as it has until now.

Check out his post here:

The ATX Open has also introduced the ‘rage room’ at its venue, Westwood Country Club, following the racket-smash drama at the Australian Open. Coco Gauff, following her straight-set defeat to Elina Svitolina in the quarterfinals, smashed her racket without knowing that it was broadcast and went viral.

Defending champion Jessica Pegula withdraws from the ATX Open

The ATX Open, a WTA 250 event, started on February 23, with the final scheduled to be held on March 1. Last year, Jessica Pegula defeated McCartney Kessler to win the title and was scheduled to lock horns with Rebecca Sramkova in the first round this year, but chose not to defend her title due to a left knee injury.

Jessica Pegula (via X/We Are Tennis)
Jessica Pegula (via X/We Are Tennis)

I’m so sorry I’ve had to pull out of the ATX Open. I loved playing last year and Austin has become one of my favorite stops. I hope to come back again soon.

Jessica Pegula wrote in her Instagram story

Pegula was last seen in action at the Dubai Open, where she defeated Svitolina to win her first title of the season. It was the first time she won a WTA 1000 title in the Middle East Swing. Prior to the Dubai event, the 2024 US Open finalist skipped the Qatar Open.

At the Australian Open this year, Pegula’s run was ended by eventual champion Elena Rybakina in the semifinals. Pegula is expected to play at the Indian Wells next. She has yet to win her home WTA 1000 title, producing her best when she made the quarterfinals in 2021.

At the Miami Open, however, Pegula is a finalist. Last year, she lost the title to World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka. So far in her career, the American has won four WTA 1000 titles: the 2025 Dubai Open, the 2023 and 2024 Canadian Open, and the 2022 Guadalajara Open.

Also read: Stefanos Tsitsipas Restarts Feud With Former Coach Goran Ivanisevic: “I Regret Certain Decisions”