“It’s Very Brutal”: Alize Cornet Reflects on Kristina Mladenovic’s Withdrawal From US Open 2020

Doubles World No.3 Kristina Mladenovic was forced to withdraw from her 3rd round match at the US Open 2020 after the organizers imposed heavier restrictions and protocols on her. This was because she had been in contact with Benoit Paire, who tested positive for coronavirus over a week ago.

The Nassau County public health officials had handed her a quarantine notice which forced her to withdraw from the Grand Slam. This has angered a lot of players, including Mladenovic who referred to these strict protocols as a ‘Bubble within a Bubble’.

Alize Cornet sympathizes with Kristina Mladenovic after her ouster from US Open 2020

Kristina’s compatriot Alize Cornet spoke on the matter in her post-match press conference following her 3rd round victory over Madison Keys. She found the situation weird and didn’t like the way Mladenovic was ‘kicked out’ of the tournament.

“Wow, I was shocked. I wrote her directly to know what was going on. I think she’s a bit overwhelmed by everything, I can understand it because it’s quite a story out there. But it’s definitely weird because she could play her first round of singles and first round of doubles, and now suddenly she’s kicked out from the draw. I think it’s very brutal,” Cornet sympathized with Mladenovic.

“Now she has to stay here. I know it’s part of the rule, but I think it’s still pretty brutal to be kicked out this way.”

As Cornet said, it is a decision that is tough to digest. Mladenovic had tested negative several times and even played the first rounds of singles and doubles. All this makes the organizer’s decision to quarantine her even more peculiar. 

The quarantine will affect Mladenovic’s plans for the rest of the season, too. She had plans to play in Istanbul and Rome following the US Open. But now, it all looks gloomy for her. 

These surprising and bizarre decisions have had players question the US Open’s setup. Notably, the ATP World No.1 Novak Djokovic has, time and again, raised the issues of hideous decision making and lack of communication from the organizer’s side.

Read More: “How Is That a Bubble”: Novak Djokovic Slams Coronavirus Protocols Causing Confusion at US Open 2020