Kristina Mladenovic Emotionally Wrecked After Benoit Paire Tests COVID Positive at US Open 2020
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Kristina Mladenovic won her opening round match at the US Open 2020 yesterday. The World No. 44 bested the American wildcard, Hailey Baptiste, in straight sets to advance to the second round.
Despite a comfortable victory, Mladenovic had to overcome her emotions, having seen her tournament participation get threatened just two days prior. Mladenovic was found to have been in contact with Benoit Paire, who tested positive for COVID on Sunday.
Paire had to withdraw from the US Open and also retired from his first-round match at the Cincinnati Masters last week.
After Paire’s tested positive, Kristina Mladenovic was asked to sign new waivers restricting her access to common areas. The Frenchwoman estimates that she spent around an hour and a half with Paire over the last two weeks.
“It’s been a very tough last two, three days for me, emotionally, nerves,” said Mladenovic in the post-match interview after her first-round victory at US Open 2020.
Mladenovic has been placed inside an isolated bubble and is not allowed to do anything except play matches. The 27-year-old acknowledged that having no access to fitness facilities will thwart her claim to the top spot at the tournament.
“I don’t know how we’re going to keep going but I’m not allowed to do fitness, do any public bubble thing. I’m not allowed anything anymore,” said Mladenovic.
The 2020 Australian Open Doubles Champion is concerned that she will have to discuss the availability of equipment for her to train, with the USTA. Seeded No. 30, Mladenovic maintained that it has been mentally hard for her over the last few days.
Kristina Mladenovic into the second round of US Open 2020
Varvara Gracheva will face Mladenovic in the second round at the Flushing Meadows on Wednesday. The duo will be facing each other for the first time in their careers. Gracheva won her first-round match against Spain’s Paula Badosa.
Mladenovic has never gone past the third round at the US Open. Will this time be any different?
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