Israeli tennis player sidesteps Australian Open ban on wearing hostage pin

Israel’s top tennis player Lina Glushko found a creative idea to work around an Australian Open ban on wearing a pin calling for the release of the hostages held by terrorists in Gaza.

Barred from stepping on court for her qualifying round match with the yellow ribbon pin, which organizers deem a political statement, Glushko instead ties an actual yellow ribbon on her hair.

The game itself doesn’t go as successfully, with the 207-ranked Glushko winning the first set 6-1 against France’s 149-ranked Léolia Jeanjean, but then losing the remaining two sets 2-6 1-6. She has thus been eliminated from the first Grand Slam of the 2025 season.

בצעד אמיץ ביותר, לינה גלושקו שיחקה הלילה עם סמל החטופים על שיערה – בגלל סירוב המארגנים לאפשר לה לשחק איתו על חולצתה, בטענה שמדובר ב"מחאה פוליטית" pic.twitter.com/EVubVJwkYm

— Ben Goldfriend (@GoldfriendBen) January 7, 2025