The Frenchman Adrian Mannarino was almost excluded from the US Open because of political games. How the tennis tournament became a state affair.
Published: 09/05/2020, 12:15 pm—
–Is he playing? Is he not playing? Adrian Mannarino had to wait hours for his deployment.
Photo: Keystone
Alexander Zverev may occasionally produce a double fault. But if the German With Russian roots, he doesn’t have to do a second serve, he’s pretty relaxed. He was also accused of this during the pandemic, because he shortly after the controversial Adria-Tour, from which various players were infected with Covid-19, showed up at a party when he should have been in quarantine. But this relaxation also has its positive sides. For example, if you should play a third round game at the US Open, but this is on the brink due to political disputes.
Zverev and Adrian Mannarino would have on Friday actually at 2.30 p.m. Local time on dem Court, but at the last minute the Frenchman was stopped. Mannarino is one of the “Paire Eleven”, the group that tested positive for Covid-19ton had contact with Benoît Paire. Nevertheless, he was allowed to play his matches, which the city of New York approved. But on Friday New York State stepped in and banned him from playing tennis.
A conflict also between Bill de Blasio, the Mayor of New York, and Andrew Cuomo, the governor of New York state? Both Democrats, by the way. Cuomo, a declared Trump opponent, had recently been celebrated for making the US Open possible during Corona times. So why this U-turn?
Zverev, the relaxed one, noted that his game apparently nand Ncould not take place, went to his box at Arthur Ashe Stadium and basked in the sun. The images of it spread like wildfire on social media, and of course the question: what’s going on? Has Mannarino now also tested positive? Luka Mladenovic, the brother of Kristina, the French, who had loudly criticized the conditions at the US Open, complained that she was being treated “like a prisoner or a criminal”, meanwhile wrote on Twitter: “If you only knew what is going on here. That would be the stuff of a Netflix series, I swear. You only know about ten percent. “
Novak Djokovic, the self-proclaimed savior of tennis, who was supposed to play in the evening, got wind of the Mannarino case and tried to contact Governor Andrew Cuomo. But apparently he had no time or inclination to talk to the Serb. At some point the message came up that Mannarino was allowed to play after all. So Zverev put his t-shirt back on and went downstairsn Place. He played for two sets like someone who has just sunbathed and then decided to play some tennis. But he turned the game around and won in four sets.
The US tennis association sent a meaningless media release about the affair with the note that one could not go into the details. The fact is: By giving in to the states New York, possibly through a hint Cuomos, could turn a fiasco for the tournament at the last minutegivebe turned. As for Mannarino, he confirmed that although he dropped out and always tested negative, he was up to am Must stay in his hotel room next Friday. According to the quarantine regulations of the US Open.
Mladenovic now excluded
It is said, however, that there should be diplomatic efforts by France to “free” the majority of French players in the “Paire Eleven” earlier. D.he wants to go home as soon as possible. On Saturday the whole thing took another turn: Kristina Mladenovic, seeded in doubles together with Timea Babos as number 1 and in the second round, was excluded from the tournament (in Queens) by the Nassau district in which the player’s hotel is located. Because of her contact with Benoît Paire. A rogue who thinks this is the return coach for her devastating criticism.
The rules of the game seem to change every day. The US Open 2020 ihas long been far more than a tennis thriller. Not only Netflix but also John Le Carré could be interested in this material.
Published: 09/05/2020, 12:15 pm-
