Mannarino almost didn't play against Zverev after maintaining contact with Paire

German Alexander Zverev beat Frenchman Adrian Mannarino on Friday in a third round match that made him wait for about three hours due to “medical problems”, according to the tournament organization, potentially related to the coronavirus and on which the winner highlighted that “the right thing to do was wait.” The US Tennis Association (USTA) delayed the duel between the fifth seed and the thirty-third seeded “while a collaborative dialogue with health officials took place.“He said that both were aware of the situation and that” due to the sensitivity of the medical problems involved “he could not elaborate.

At the scheduled time for the gameat around 5 p.m. at Arthur Ashe Stadium in Flushing Meadows, the cameras focused on Zverev lying on a towel, shirtless and staring at his phone, on which he commented that he had “relaxed” because heand they had communicated that there was “little chance” that both would play. Mannarino is one of several French players who have undergone tighter restrictions within the “bubble” from Flushing Meadows after compatriot Benoit Paire was withdrawn from the tournament a day before its start after testing positive for COVID-19.

“It was not in our hands to determine the decision, nor was it the players' decision to play or not. It was more of a political issue and of people above us“, Zverev explained in a press conference after the match, while at the foot of the court he suggested that” the state of New York “had ordered” not to play “French.”In my opinion, the right thing to do was wait. So I waited, I had to give him the opportunity (to play) and if I had been in your situation I would not have wanted not to play the game. Fortunately, we were able to play and it was better for both him and me, “explained the 23-year-old tennis player.

The German overcame a set against and beat Mannarino 6-7 (4), 6-4, 6-2 and 6-2 this Friday, after which he stood out as exceptional circumstances. “He has to be in quarantine, it really was the last time he was allowed out of the hotel room for a long period of time so it seems to me that for him there was nothing to loser “, said Zverev, who considered Mannarino” a great player. “His opponent in the round of 16 will be the young Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich, who also won in four sets, 7-6 (2), 4-6, 6-2 and 6-1, to the British Cameron Norrie and reached for the first time the round of 16 of a Grand Slam.

The bubble continues to generate controversy

Before the mess, Zverez had already been one of the first players to charge the bubble. More and more are being added to that list, one of them was his partner in the doubles of the Cincinnati Masters 1,000, Tim Puetz, who charged against the USTA on the 'Advantage' podcast. “They never communicated to the players or the staff that 10% of us would be in a second hotel that is not a bubble. The hotel of the other 90% of the players is completely different. In that hotel there is security at each entrance, there are only tennis players. Here, in ours, you can enter without problems. They only reserved some plants. When you enter the hotel you mix with people who are not in the tournament. This was not discussed at any point before the tournament. If you don't ask, the organizers don't inform you of anything “, he pointed.

Just as there are criticisms, there are also defenders. The latest to publicly support the USTA is Andy Roddick. “The “false bubble” has managed to successfully host a tournament of international significance. I hope that the beloved Roland Garros de Paire will be able to achieve the same. I would also say that Zverev, of whom I am a fan, should be the last to throw stones at people, “he posted on social media.