Israeli tennis player defiantly wears yellow ribbon at Australian Open
Israeli tennis player Lina Glushko wore a yellow ribbon in her hair to an international match in Australia after organizers forbade her from wearing a pin, which organizers considered a political statement, during the competition, Israel’s Channel 14 reported on Tuesday.
Lena wears a yellow ribbon in Auckland Photo: Israel Tennis
Glushko’s move during a qualifying match for the Australian Open followed protests against her at a previous tournament in New Zealand. Protesters opposed the presence of Glushko, a former IDF soldier, at the 2025 ASB Classic in Auckland and briefly interrupted the matches.
In New Zealand, Glushko, ranked 207th in the world, lost a match to four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka, ending her participation in the tournament.
Glushko will not compete in the Australian Open main draw after losing her match to Léolia Jeanjean 1-6, 6-2, 6-1.
JNS
Does the yellow ribbon pin ban apply also to Australian spectators> Or will they too be banned from watching the Australian Open?
A shame Lena Glushko didn’t make it through. Both creative and courageous to wear a yellow ribbon in her hair. And shame on any authorities anywhere who consider a symbol for release of the hostages political rather than humanitarian.