They flap in the breeze, ringing the courts below. They adorn scoreboards and websites, and if flags represent the countries of players, they also stand as four-cornered emblems signifying just how relentless international professional tennis has become. There is le drapeau tricolore of France and il tricolore of Italy. There are the Stars and Stripes and the Union Jack. The green and gold of Brazil. The red and gold of Spain. The minimalist flag designs of Switzerland and Japan.
Here’s a deeper cut, at least in tennis: a white equilateral triangle set off by a horizontal blue stripe (denoting peace, truth and justice) and a horizontal red stripe (for patriotism and valor) below. It’s the flag of the Philippines, flown at tennis events because of one player and one player only.
