Kristina Mladenovic led a set to zero and got four match points in the second round of the US Open on Wednesday before collapsing physically against Russia’s Varvara Gracheva (1-6, 7-6 [2], 6-0). A terrible slump for Kristina Mladenovic, who was under strict surveillance in New York for having rubbed shoulders with Benoît Paire.
6-1 in the first set, 5-1 in the second with service to follow: Kristina Mladenovic (44th) largely held her rank during the first half of her match of the second round of the US Open against Varvara Gracheva (102nd ) Wednesday. Only here, the Frenchwoman did not manage to conclude this second set. However, she did have four match points. But none has passed. And the nightmare began.
The physical loose, the match escapes
Gracheva, back from hell, climbed to 5-5 and won in the tie break against an unrecognizable Mladenovic. The number one tricolor, totally out of the shot physically, could not do anything to stop this negative spiral. She was away from the court for a while, but on her return she was no more valiant. The result is overwhelming with a “bike wheel” in the third round. It’s Varvara Gracheva who, for her first US Open at 20, will face Petra Martic in the next round.
Kristina Mladenovic is one of the five French, with Grégoire Barrère, Richard Gasquet, Adrian Mannarino and Edouard Roger-Vasselin, had to sign a very strict health protocol. All have rubbed shoulders with Benoît Paire, positive for Covid-19, in recent days. Mladenovic, she confided to be “mentally washed out” by this situation.
