French tennis player says the COVID-19 restrictions at the U.S. Open are 'abominable' and players have been treated like 'prisoners or criminals'
French tennis star Kristina Mladenovic on Wednesday blasted the conditions at the U.S. Open after she faced intense restrictions for coming in contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19.
Mladenovic, who lost her singles match to Varvara Gracheva in three sets on Wednesday, said she felt like she was treated like a prisoner.
"I have the impression we are prisoners or criminals," Mladenovic said, via the New York Times' Christopher Clarey. "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."
According to Clarey, Mladenovic was part of a group of players who faced tighter restrictions and more frequent testing because they had contact with Benoit Paire, a French men's player who tested positive for COVID-19 on Saturday.
Mladenovic had played cards with Paire in a hotel lobby and said she wore a mask. Paire said on Instagram that he later tested negative.
"If I had known that playing cards for 40 minutes with a mask with a player who tested positive and ultimately negative would have these consequences, I would never have set foot in this tournament," she said.
According to Clarey, Chris Widmaier, a spokesman for the United States Tennis Association, said that the subsequent negative test was "irrelevant" and that a positive test triggers isolation protocols.
Mladenovic still has a doubles match to play. According to Clarey, even if she lost, she might be kept in the U.S. Open "bubble" until September 12.
"It's a nightmare what we are experiencing here," Mladenovic said. "I have only one desire, and that's to get my freedom back and even that we don't have yet."