Victory is undoubtedly all that Kristina Mladenovic will remember from her entry into the US Open.
The huge cry of the 44th world after her victory, however logical (7-5, 6-2) against the American Hailey Baptiste (236th), who made her Grand Slam debut thanks to an invitation from the organizers, says much more about his relief.
“We had bad news two days ago and since then I have been going through a nightmare.
I wasn't sure I could play.
I was like in a bubble in the bubble, so I was very grateful to have been able to be on the court today, ”she explained.
Mladenovic was referring to the positive Covid-19 test of his compatriot Benoît Paire which was revealed on Sunday on the eve of the start of the tournament.
While Paire was immediately excluded from the competition, a number of other players who rubbed shoulders with him were placed under increased surveillance.
They are Richard Gasquet, Grégoire Barrère, Edouard Roger-Vasselin and Adrian Mannarino.
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According to the
New York Times
, to be able to participate, they signed a new agreement with the American Federation (USTA), under the terms of which they must now undergo a daily coronavirus test and are in isolation.
According to the New York daily which obtained the text of the new agreement concluded with the USTA, they are thus confined in their room, where they no longer have the right to receive anyone and from where they have no the right to leave only to go to the place of the competition.
They are no longer allowed to go to the common areas of the hotel.
At the venue of the competition, they no longer have access to the cloakroom or the dining room.
They must also use a gym as well as specific warm-up and training areas and by reservation.
Garcia will challenge the number 1 seed
This perhaps explains the first sinusoidal round of Mladenovic, who first came off calmly 5-3 before losing his break in advance after a catastrophic game at 5-4, concluded with a pitiful double fault.
Fortunately for the Frenchwoman, in terms of gifts, Baptiste was even more generous by offering her a second break to finally conclude the round (7-5).
From then on, the young 18-year-old American who looked like Serena Williams let go.
"The conditions are strange, we miss the public," said Kristina Mladenovic after her match.
Another French representative has passed the first round in the person of Caroline Garcia.
The 50th in the world qualified for the second round by eliminating the Italian Jasmine Paolini (97th) in 1h21 and two sets (6-3, 6-2).
The Frenchwoman will have a lot to do in the next round, as she will challenge the number 1 seed, the Czech Karolina Pliskova.
More powerful, efficient at the service and master of exchanges, Garcia nonetheless struggled at times to maintain her advantage over an opponent who never gave up.
She thus managed to break again at 3-2 after ten minutes of efforts which ended up discouraging her opponent before escaping in the second set.
Results of the 1st round:
Ka.
Pliskova (Rtc, 1)
- Kalinina (Ukr) 6-4, 6-0
Kerber (All, 17)
- Tomljanovic (Aus) 6-4, 6-4
Mladenovic (Fra, 30)
- Baptiste (EU) 7-5 , 6-2
Kvitova (Rtc, 6)
- Begu (Rou) 6-3, 6-2
Sasnovich (Blr)
- Di Lorenzo (EU) 2-6, 7-6, 6-0
Vondrousova (Rtc, 12)
- Minnen (Bel) 6-1, 6-4
Garcia (Fra)
- Paolini (Ita) 6-3, 6-2
Friedsam (All)
- Dolehide (EU) 6-2, 6-2
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