Kristina Mladenovic says she had to overcome an emotional build-up to her 7-5 6-2 win over American wildcard Hailey Baptiste in the US Open first round, having seen her participation in the tournament threatened just two days before kick-off.
Mladenovic is one of at least 10 French players deemed to have had close contact with Benoit Paire, who tested positive for COVID-19 and was withdrawn on Sunday.
Those players, including Mladenovic, were asked to sign new waivers restricting their access to all common areas onsite and at the tournament hotel.
"It's been a very tough last two, three days for me, emotionally, nerves," said Mladenovic, the hero of France's Fed Cup final win over Australia in Perth last November.
"I'm allowed to play match, literally allowed to do nothing else."
The world No.44 revealed she had a one-hour practice session with Paire, and spent no more than 45 minutes playing cards with him as part of a larger group in the hotel lobby on one occasion.
She estimates that in total, she spent an hour and a half with her compatriot within the past two weeks.
"I feel very unlucky there, especially that apparently the practice doesn't count and it's just the fact that I spent 30 minutes with him being part of that big table. Of course we had our masks on. But it's just that I've been contact with the person that tested positive," said Mladenovic.
The 27-year-old is concerned about how she can prepare well for her matches given she has no access to any fitness facilities.
"I don't know how we're going to keep going but I'm not allowed to do fitness, do any public bubble thing. I'm not allowed anything anymore," said Mladenovic.
"I'm completely on my own with my brother-coach. Not to allowed to any other facilities that have been put in place for the players.
"It's mentally very tough. I still have to find a way and discuss with the USTA how we can organise things in order for me to be at least competitive and have equipment to keep working."
Mladenovic's opponent on Monday, Baptiste, was unaware she was facing a player who had been in close contact with Paire.
"I wasn't really too concerned. I feel like a lot of people were actually around him. I know I was on an elevator with him a couple of times, I'm not sure if that was before or after he tested positive. I didn't know that she [Mladenovic] was around him a lot and was in close contact with him, so that didn't cross my mind much," said Baptiste.
Mladenovic is scheduled to take on Varvara Gracheva in the second round on Wednesday.
Australian Associated Press
