Visa Issues Force Kristina Mladenovic to Choose Other WTA Events Over US Open 2020

Numerous athletes on the tennis tour have addressed their unwillingness to play at the US Open 2020, due to the escalating cases of coronavirus and several tournament restrictions. But interesting, former doubles World Number one Kristina Mladenovic has enrolled for tournaments in Palermo and Prague which are taking place right before the US Open, all because she’s skeptical about traveling to the US this year as she doesn’t hold a visa. 

The French player has applied for a legal traveling document. But during these dire times wherein traveling and staying in the US is a confrontation of the foreign nationals, Mladenovic is skeptical about participating at the US Open this year.

“I had decided to resume in New York (for the US Open). But there is a very interesting parameter. I no longer have my ESTA visa and we are not being given it yet,” Kristina Mladenovic told L’Equipe.

“So, I had to register in Palermo and Prague on clay. And if I don’t get a visa with these travel restrictions, I’ll fall back on the clay tour. There are a lot of uncertainties.”

“We hear negative things from the United States” – Kristina Mladenovic

Last year, at the US Open she eliminated the former champion, Angelique Kerber in the first round and later lost to her compatriot Fiona Ferro in the next.

In the doubles domain, Mladenovic and Timea Babos were the top-seeds and they reached the quarterfinals of the tournament. But this year, the doubles specialist’s travel to the western part of the world seems to be a challenge for Mladenovic in the middles of the legal issues and pandemic vibes.

“I don’t even have a visa. Usually, it’s something you get in a few hours. I want to believe that people are doing their best to keep everything going well,” she added.

“We see here, when we organize ourselves well, we tell ourselves that there is no fear. We hear negative things from the United States. Let’s live day by day.” (the quotes have been translated)

Doubles World Number three Mladenovic has committed to play in Palermo and Prague. Also, Wolrd Number two tennis player Simona Halep will be seen on the clay courts of Palermo, Sicily.