By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Monday August 31, 2020

 

France's Kristina Mladenovic is one of a group of French players that have been placed under strict quarantine because of contact with Benoit Paire, who tested Positive for Covid-19 at the US Open.

Photo Source: AP

The “bubble inside the bubble” has been stressful for France’s Kristina Mladenovic. After her 7-5, 6-2 victory over Hailey Baptiste of the United States, Mladenovic revealed that she was one of the players that has been moved to a separate and altogether more strict bubble because she had come into contact with Benoit Paire, who tested positive for Covid-19 on Saturday in New York.

According to Howard Fendrich of the AP, seven players in total have been placed inside the "Bubble in the Bubble."

Mladenovic, who told reporters today that she had practiced with Paire for an hour and also sat at a big table with Paire and several other players, playing cards for about “30 to 45 minutes”, has been under a lot of stress.

The Frenchwoman said things started out fine in New York.

“Since I arrived here I was super happy and super pumped – I still am, don’t get me wrong,” Mladenovic, who will face Varvara Gracheva in second-round action in New York, said. “Bubble was pretty organized you could do lots of things in terms of practice, performance, activities and so on.”

But since it was revealed that she had come into close contact with Paire, things have took a turn for the worse for Mladenovic.

“It’s been a very tough last two, three days for me,” she said. “Emotionally, nerves. … I am basically in a new bubble in a bubble so there’s not much I’m allowed to do, which makes it very tough for me to compete and mentally be kind of fresh and ready, but I’m just so relieved and grateful that I get to play and win my first match.”

Mladenovic said the events of the last few days have taken a toll on her.

“I wasn’t feeling really well there, I was very drained mentally and tight, but it’s also first round so it’s also tough to start a tournament especially under all the circumstances,” she said of her win over Baptiste on Court 17. “I’ve been kind of enduring the last few days so I’m just very happy that I got the win today, that was the most fun part for me, and obviously to get to play my match.”

During her press conference Mladenovic, a former World No.10 and former US Open and Roland Garros quarterfinalist, was asked to explain what her situation was like.

“Let’s make it simple, I’m allowed to play my match, I’m literally allowed to do nothing else,” she said. “I don’t know how we are going to keep going, but yeah, I’m not allowed to fitness, to any public like bubble thing, I’m not allowed to do anything anymore. I’m completely on my own with my brother / coach, so it is literally a bubble in the bubble, I don’t know how to be more precise.”

She said she hopes that the situation can improve and she can have access to a few more of the necessary training tools that will help her prepare for her next match.

“Literally seeing no one else, not allowed to any other facilities that have been put in place for the players, like I said, it’s mentally very tough, I still have to find a way and discuss with the USTA how we can organize things in order for me to be at least competitive, and have equipment to keep working,” she said. “I managed to win my first match my next match is on Wednesday I assume so there’s lots of time til then. Hopefully I can be in the best condition for that.”