US Open: Babos and Mladenovic apparently disqualified
One day after the chaos surrounding the match between Alexander Zverev and his French opponent Adrian Mannarino , the number one women's doubles Timea Babos / Kristina Mladenovic (Hungary / France) was surprisingly deleted from the US Open schedule.
by SID / tennisnet
last edit: Sep 05, 2020, 08:55 pm
The three-time Grand Slam winners should have played the third match on Court 11 on Saturday, instead the second round match of the German doubles Kevin Krawietz / Andreas Mies (Coburg / Cologne) was scheduled. Both are still noted in the tableau.
A reason for the deletion of Babos / Mladenovic was initially not known. As Eurosport reported, however, the two were apparently disqualified.
Mladenovic is one of the seven well-known players who came into contact with Frenchman Benoit Paire. Paire was infected with the corona virus. In order to be able to stay in the tournament, Mannarino and Mladenovic, among others, had to sign an additional protocol, they were additionally isolated within the "bubble". Mladenovic had complained on Thursday: "We are treated like criminals and prisoners."
Exception for Mannarino - not so for Mladenovic?
The players affected are to remain in quarantine in New York until September 11. The plan to travel to Europe on a flight financed by the French government was not approved by the authorities. The players were originally assured that they would be able to prepare for the French Open (from September 27th) even after being eliminated from the US Open on clay. Since Friday, those who have left their hotel rooms have not been allowed to leave their hotel rooms or exercise - an exception has apparently been made for Mannarino.
Zverev was only able to compete against Mannarino on Friday after an hour-long tug of war. This was apparently preceded by an official scramble between the city of New York and Mayor Bill de Blasio as well as the state of New York and Governor Andrew Cuomo over the interpretation of the hygiene regulations. Zverev won the match in four sets after voluntarily waiting for Mannarino to appear.