As soon as they were eliminated from the US Open, Richard Gasquet, Grégoire Barrère and Edouard Roger-Vasselin learned on Thursday that they could not return to France. The New York health authority is holding them back until September 11. A blow of the club!
The double penalty for Richard Gasquet, Grégoire Barrère and Edouard Roger-Vasselin. Eliminated Thursday from the US Open, the three French learned a few hours later that they could not return to France. Their quarantine was extended until September 11, which destroyed their plans to prepare for Roland Garros. Their fault: having shared a game of cards with Benoît Paire a few days before he tested positive for Covid-19, which led, let us remember, to his exclusion from the tournament. And yet, since Sunday, the three Blues have been checked every morning and are regularly negative.
When he came to the zoom conference, Richard Gasquet was quite worried. He did not know the decision but he sensed the blow of the club. “Since the ATP call on Saturday night, I have been concentrating on my matches but the situation is getting worse, he said. I do not want to spend nine days here. I am not hiding that the theft of Tonight’s Air France, I would like to take it. “
Cornet: “Let them in!”
Grégoire Barrère was also waiting at the time of the interview. “If we remain in quarantine, that means that I will not play matches before Roland Garros,” he calculated. Because the Frenchman was to take part in the qualifiers in Rome at the end of next week. Everything falls into the water.
Beaten by Alizé Cornet, Ysaline Bonaventure put an end to the suspense. The Belgian also approached Benoît Paire and belonged to the 7 players monitored by the New York health authorities. “I’m going to have to stay until Friday the 11th with my coach, Kirsten (Flipkens, editor’s note) and all the others who are in this situation. It’s hard to accept. It’s New York Health that decides. Mentally. , It’s going to be complicated to train to prepare for the season on clay. It’s bad luck, we can’t do much, “she said, disgusted.
Informed of the unfavorable evolution of the situation of his friends, Alizé Cornet got carried away: “It is excessive, totally absurd, she said at a press conference. At a certain point, you have to stop being psycho-rigid. Let them in! Especially since they are negative. “
Mladenovic criticized by Roddick
The cases of Adrian Mannarino – who will play her third round this Friday – and Kristina Mladenovic – who won her first round in doubles – are somewhat different. They both have a sporting reason to stay in New York. But the Frenchwoman’s words – ‘We are considered criminals’ – received a very unfavorable response in the US Andy Roddick, the former world number 1, posted a very pungent tweet on Thursday evening towards “Kiki”. Translated, it reads: “Prisoners / criminals do not have the opportunity to play for 6-figure prize money (Mladenovic will walk away with a check for the $ 100,000 single). If gamers and fans can enjoy the US Open, it’s through protocols. This point of view seriously lacks height. “
The collateral damage of the positive control of Benoît Paire who, paradoxically, must be allowed to take the return plane on Tuesday, may only be beginning.
