Tennis-Belarusian and Russian charge in Melbourne throws spotlight on Wimbledon ban

Tennis - Australian Open - Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia - January 24, 2023 Belarus' Victoria Azarenka celebrates winning her quarter final match against Jessica Pegula of the U.S. REUTERS/Carl Recine

LONDON (Reuters) -A first ever Grand Slam final featuring two players from Belarus remains a possibility while a Russian also remains in contention at the Australian Open -- a scenario that will not have gone unnoticed by the organisers of Wimbledon.

Former world number one Victoria Azarenka will continue her quest for a third Australian Open crown when she faces Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina, who was born in Moscow, in the semi-finals on Thursday before Aryna Sabalenka takes on Poland's Magda Linette.