Mladenovic-Babos withdrawn from U.S. Open doubles after quarantine notice

[ASFN Admin]

VIDEO SHOWS: SCREEN SHOT OF STATEMENT FROM THE UNITED STATES TENNIS ASSOCIATION (USTA) EXPLAINING FRANCE'S KRISTINA MLADENOVIC AND HUNGARY'S TIMEA BABOS HAVE BEEN WITHDRAWN FROM THE WOMEN'S DOUBLES COMPETITION / STILL PHOTOS FROM WHEN MLADENOVIC AND BABOS WON THE WOMEN'S DOUBLES AT THE AUSTRALIAN OPEN / RECENT FOOTAGE OF FLUSHING MEADOWS, THE VENUE OF THE U.S. OPEN SHOWS: INTERNET (SEPTEMBER 5, 2020) (USTA HANDOUT - ACCESS ALL) (MUTE) 1. SCREEN SHOT OF STATEMENT FROM THE UNITED STATES TENNIS ASSOCIATION (USTA) EXPLAINING FRANCE'S KRISTINA MLADENOVIC AND HUNGARY'S TIMEA BABOS HAVE BEEN WITHDRAWN FROM THE WOMEN'S DOUBLES COMPETITION BECAUSE MLADENOVIC WAS IN "PROLONGED CLOSE CONTACT WITH THE INFECTED PERSON (BENOIT PAIRE)" AND MUST REMAIN QUARANTINED IN HER ROOM MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA (FILE - JANUARY 31, 2020) (REUTERS PICTURES - ACCESS ALL) (MUTE) 2. STILL PHOTO OF FRANCE'S KRISTINA MLADENOVIC AND HUNGARY'S TIMEA BABOS, DURING WOMEN'S DOUBLE FINAL AT THE AUSTRALIAN OPEN AGAINST BARBORA STRYCOVA AND SU-WEI HSIEH 3. STILL PHOTO OF MLADENOVIC AND BABOS CELEBRATING AFTER WINNING THE WOMEN'S DOUBLES AT THE AUSTRALIAN OPEN 4. STILL PHOTO OF MLADENOVIC AND BABOS CELEBRATING WITH TROPHY 5. STILL PHOTO OF MLADENOVIC AND BABOS HOISTING TROPHY INTO THE AIR NEW YORK, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (RECENT - AUGUST 28, 2020) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 6. EXTERIOR OF ARTHUR ASHE STADIUM ON GROUND OF USTA BILLIE JEAN NATIONAL TENNIS CENTER 7. VARIOUS OF RAILING WITH NO LINES FOR ENTRANCE 8. VARIOUS OF PRACTICE PLAY / U.S. OPEN LOGO 9. "KEEP THIS FAR APART" LOGO OUTSIDE CENTER 10. EMPTY GROUNDS AT AN ENTRANCE TO CENTER 11. TICKET AGENT WITH FACE MASK AT CREDENTIAL ENTRY 12. VARIOUS EXTERIORS OF ARTHUR ASHE STADIUM 13. CENTRAL PARK TENNIS CENTER 14. WORLD FAIR GLOBE AT USTA TENNIS CENTER 15. ARTHUR ASHE STADIUM 16. PEOPLE WALKING PAST THE CHASE CENTER 17. POLICE OFFICERS ON HORSEBACK 18. VARIOUS OF PLAYERS PRACTISING THROUGH FENCING STORY: Top seeds Kristina Mladenovic and Timea Babos were withdrawn from the U.S. Open doubles competition on Saturday (September 5), hours before they were due on court after Mladenovic received a COVID-19 quarantine notice from public health officials, the United States Tennis Association (USTA) said. Mladenovic is one of 10 players who came in contact with France's Benoit Paire, who was pulled out from the men's field at the hardcourt major after testing positive for the new coronavirus. Since the players are staying in Nassau County, the USTA said public health officials prevented those who were in contact with Paire from travelling to the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City. "Public health officials of Nassau County, N.Y., have issued quarantine notices for all individuals who had prolonged close contact to a person who previously tested positive for the COVID-19 coronavirus," the USTA said in a statement. "All persons who were identified as having prolonged close contact with the infected player will quarantine in their rooms for the remainder of their quarantine period. "Kristina Mladenovic is one of these individuals, and as the women's doubles competition has begun, the women's doubles team of Kristina Mladenovic and Timea Babos has been withdrawn from the U.S. Open." Mladenovic had previously complained of living a "nightmare" due to the health protocols at the Grand Slam after suffering a spectacular meltdown to lose to Russian Varvava Gracheva in her second-round singles match on Wednesday. The 27-year-old was one of several athletes placed under an "enhanced protocol plan". She had complained saying she felt like she was being treated like a prisoner after she was placed inside a "bubble within a bubble" despite "thirty negative tests". France's Adrian Mannarino was also placed in the same protocol plan and his match with fifth seed Alexander Zverev was pushed back on Friday as the USTA engaged in discussions with health officials to allow the match to go ahead. Mannarino was knocked out in four sets. (Production: Kurt Michael Hall)

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