New York (AFP)

For having been in "close contact" with Benoît Paire tested positive for the coronavirus, Kristina Mladenovic was in turn excluded from the US Open on Saturday by the local authorities who nevertheless let Adrian Mannarino, in the same case, play his match the day before.

The new episode of the endless saga of the 2020 edition of the New York Major, weighed down by the health crisis, has fallen.

And it is Mladenovic who is at the heart of this twist.

The French and her partner, the Hungarian Timea Babos, have in fact been withdrawn from the women's doubles table, by decision of Nassau County, announced the American Federation (USTA).

This decision is based on the fact that Mladenovic is one of the players who have rubbed shoulders with Benoît Paire, excluded from the tournament a week ago after his positive test.

As such, she must "remain in her room for the remainder of her quarantine period".

"Public health officials in Nassau County, New York, have issued quarantine advisories for anyone who has been in prolonged close contact with someone who has tested positive for Covid-19," explained the USTA.

"As the players reside in Nassau County, these notices prevent these people from going to the Billie Jean King National Center in New York," said the USTA, which is required to comply with New York State guidelines, New York City and Nassau County.

Mladenovic having been "in prolonged close contact" with Paire, the duet she composes with Timea Babos "was excluded" from the doubles tournament.

- Questions -

Several questions arise in light of this decision which strikes Mladenovic.

Why was she excluded from the US Open and not Adrian Mannarino, who is also one of the seven players (with Richard Gasquet, Grégoire Barrère, Edouard Roger-Vasselin and the Belgians Ysaline Bonaventure and Kirsten Flipkens) having been in contact with Pair?

Not that it was easy to maintain their duel against Alexander Zverev on Friday, since he was delayed by almost three hours, after which the USTA finally got the green light from the authorities.

But then, is it easier to prevent the holding of an 8th final in women's doubles than a third round of men's singles between the 7th in the world and the 39th?

What is different in the situation of Mladenovic and Mannarino that Nassau County made two different decisions?

The fact that the second was perhaps already on site at the time of the negotiations, unlike the first, stuck in his hotel room?

A phone call to State Governor Andrew Cuomo, as Novak Djokovic attempted to - unsuccessfully -?

- Diplomatic intervention?

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All of this is taking place while both have always tested negative for the virus.

While having agreed to sign an even more restrictive health protocol, which already placed them in isolation.

Now the seven players must finish observing their fortnight before they can return home.

According to the New York Times, French and American authorities this week failed to reach an agreement that would have allowed the eliminated players to return to France, on a plane provided by the French government.

Contacted by AFP, the Quai d'Orsay indicated that the French diplomatic representation was in contact with the American health authorities and the French Tennis Federation, and "closely monitoring" the situation, without further details.

A situation which seems to be more and more untenable for Mladenovic, who said on Wednesday to feel like a "prisoner" or a "criminal".

For her, the rest of the season promises to be difficult.

She will not come out of quarantine until the end of next week, barely a handful of days before the tournament on clay courts in Rome which begins on September 14 where she is registered and which precedes Roland-Garros.

Mentally and physically his unpreparedness will be maximum.

© 2020 AFP