Kristina Mladenovic yesterday suffered “one of the most dramatic turnabouts in U.S. Open history” during her second-round loss, and she seemed to blame it on the weight of the last few days, which included her being isolated after being exposed to coronavirus, according to Christopher Clarey of the N.Y. TIMES. Mladenovic lost 12 of the last 13 points, and she indicated that the conditions of her stay in N.Y. “became much more of a mental burden” in the third set. She said, “It’s a nightmare what we are experiencing here. I have only one desire, and that’s to get my freedom back and even that we don’t have yet.” Clarey notes Mladenovic is one of the players to face “tighter restrictions and more frequent coronavirus testing” after being in contact with Benoit Paire, who tested positive on Saturday. She has faced “much stricter measures than the general population of players” since Sunday, when she was “required to sign a revised agreement with the USTA to remain in the tournament.” Mladenovic: “I have the impression we are prisoners or criminals. For even the slightest movement, we have to ask permission even though we are tested every day and had 37 negatives. It’s abominable. The conditions are atrocious.” Mladenovic is scheduled for doubles play today, but even if she is eliminated, she is “required to remain in quarantine at the player hotel until Sept. 12” (N.Y. TIMES, 9/3).
