New York (AFP)

Still quietly but with devilish efficiency, Daniil Medvedev qualified on Saturday for the round of 16 of the US Open where Kristina Mladenovic was excluded from the doubles tournament for health reasons.

Earrings, too long brush hairstyle on the top ... and in the neck, headband to hold the set and to be able to hit like an ox on anything that moves, JJ Wolf has the false air of André Agassi period 1990.

Except at 21, and for his first appearance in a Grand Slam tournament, the American (138th) commits many more faults than his elder brother did.

He committed 41 in three sets ... too many to be able to hope to defeat a strategist like Medvedev who won 6-3, 6-3, 6-2 in 1h48.

"I'm happy to have won again in three sets, especially after six months off. It's not easy, but I feel good," said the Russian before leaving the court.

In three games, he spent less than 6 hours on the court and perfectly held his rank of 5th in the world by showing himself absolutely relentless against opponents deemed weaker.

Losing an anthology final last year against Rafael Nadal, the 24-year-old Russian will face Marton Fucsovics (66th) or Frances Tiafoe (82nd) ​​on Monday for a place in the quarterfinals.

His compatriot Andrey Rublev (14th) was also expeditious against the Italian Salvatore Caruso (100th) whom he dismissed 6-0, 6-4, 6-0 in 1h24.

- Serena on the track -

On the courts, the day's program is still enticing with the expected performances of Serena Williams and Sofia Kenin for the ladies, Dominic Thiem, Matteo Berrettini and Felix Auger-Aliassime for the men.

But the 6th day of the tournament was once again marked by a health issue, with the ban on Frenchwoman Kristina Mladenovic from leaving her hotel room to play her match in the second round of the ladies' double.

The team which she forms with the Hungarian Timea Babos was thus "excluded from the tournament", announced the USTA.

"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," explains the Federation in a press release.

"As the players reside in Nassau County, the quarantine notices prevent these people from going to the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York," the text added.

- No exemption -

The Frenchwoman was the last player still in the running to have been in contact with Benoît Paire, excluded from the tournament and placed in quarantine in her hotel room before the start of the tournament.

Friday, for the same reasons, Adrian Mannarino was almost prevented from playing his match in the 3rd round of the men's singles against Alexander Zverev.

But in his case, after several hours of negotiations between the various New York authorities, an agreement had been reached so that he could finally play.

Mladenovic, she had no exemption.

After her elimination in singles in the second round on Wednesday, she had been extremely virulent towards the ultra-restrictive health measures that were imposed on Paire's seven contact cases, none of which has ever tested positive for coronavirus, considering herself treated as a "prisoner" or a "criminal".

These players were able to participate in the US Open after signing a new, more restrictive health protocol with New York City.

Strangely, the Nassau County health authorities had no complaints until Friday and everyone had been able to play at least one game ...

© 2020 AFP