Benoit Paire contact person: Kirsten Flipkens is not allowed to leave New York City
Next upset in connection with the COVID-19 protocols of the organizers of the US Open. As Kirsten Flipkens announced on Instagram, she was not allowed to leave New York City until September 11th.
by Michael Rothschädl
last edit: Sep 04, 2020, 12:43 pm
Eleven people, seven of them players, were in closer contact with Benoit Paire, who tested surprisingly positive for COVID-19 and then denounced a non-existent bubble. These eleven people then had to follow even stricter regulations, a so-called bubble in the bubble was created for them to at least make it possible for them to start at the US Open.
Regulations that Kristina Mladenovic heavily criticized after her insane departure from the now second major of the year. "What they are making us go through here is horrible. I want my freedom back. I have the impression that we are prisoners," said the Frenchwoman at the press conference after her departure. Now Kirsten Flipkens, who is also the contact person for Benoit Paire, is criticizing the regulations.
"Trapped" in the US until September 11th?
"I don't want to complain about how things have gone so far with the stricter protocols. I have to say that I am grateful to be able to participate in the tournament at all," the Belgian started a statement in her Instagram story. But now some grievances would actually have surfaced, namely in connection with your planned departure from the United States.
Kristen has meanwhile been eliminated from both the single and the double competition, so the normal procedure would be to fly back to Europe as soon as possible to prepare intensively for the upcoming clay court season. "Now it looks like the eleven people will have to stay in the US for up to two weeks after their last contact with Benoit Paire, on September 11th," said the Belgian. According to information from tennisnet, Jürgen Melzer's double partner, Édouard Roger-Vasselin, is also said to have to struggle with a problem similar to Flipkens.
Without preparation for the French Open?
What is considered to be quite uncomfortable per se, whether the strict security protocols in the USA, has another extremely pale aftertaste for Kirsten Flipkens. "That means I can't play the qualification for the WTA event in Rome because it starts on Saturday," said Flipkens. And the last tournament before the third Grand Slam of the year could fall into the water for Flipkens, because of the extremely small grid, the Belgian will probably not have a chance to start there.
"So that means no preparatory tournament before the French Open," explained Flipkens, who also notes that all of her previous PCR tests gave negative results. So she hoped that after further tests she could return to Europe soon, as Flipkens assured via Instagram. This is also supported by the fact that Benoit Paire announced via Instagram Live that, after his negative test result, he would be able to return to Europe on Tuesday. The USTA has not yet issued a statement on Flipken's statements.