After Benoît Paire’s package for the US Open because of a positive Covid-19 test, the organizers of the American tournament will look for potential contact cases. Four other French players have been asked to stay in their rooms.
US Open organizers released a statement on Sunday indicating that a player had tested positive. They did not reveal his identity but Caroline Garcia, who came to the Zoom press conference, had just been informed that it was Benoît Paire. And Avignon is no longer in the table. He was replaced by Spaniard Marcel Granollers.
The last lines of the American press release are worrying: “Tracing research will be undertaken to find out with whom the player may have been in contact and a quarantine of fourteen days is necessary.”
According to information from RMC Sport, four French players (Richard Gasquet, Adrian Mannarino, Grégoire Barrère and Edouard Roger-Vasselin) were asked to stay in their rooms, in their hotel. A damaging measure for Adrian Mannarino, who must play his first round this Monday at Flushing Meadows. In the bubble of their hotel, these Habs sometimes killed time by playing games of FIFA. This must not have escaped the Americans, who take maximum precautions.
Garcia: “That explains all the constraints”
Three weeks ago, the physiotherapist of Guido Pella had tested positive and the Argentinian player had been put in fourteen, unable to play the Masters 1000 of Cincinnati. The same fate therefore threatens the French players. But a quadruple forfeit would have the effect of a bomb in Flushing Meadows.
When questioned during a Zoom conference, Caroline Garcia did not seem to be living in psychosis. “It may seem surprising that a case comes out like that, so long after entering the bubble, explained the French. But that explains all the constraints, the tests every three days. And why they keep reminding us to respect the distancing measures and wear the mask. “
Benoît Paire arrived in New York on Tuesday, August 18. Like all players, he was tested and the result (negative) was communicated to him 24 hours later. On August 22, ill, he retired in the first round of the Cincinnati tournament. As the incubation period of the virus is estimated to be several days, he probably contracted the virus in France.
“This remains an isolated case. Considering the number of players and coaches there are in the bubble, it remains very positive if I may say so …. After, Benoît, we do not know where he caught him. maybe came with it. We are not 100% safe even if we are very safe. It is part of the game, we try to be very careful but sometimes it is bad luck “, says Alizé Cornet.
If we trace the Avignon, we know that he played a CNGT tournament in Pra-Loup on August 13. Star of this ordeal, he had arrived the day before. According to several testimonies, it is a very festive event. As long as social distancing has not been respected …
