Fifth seed Alexander Zverev won a mystery-laden US Open match that was delayed by three hours Friday after New York state apparently staged...
Fifth seed Alexander Zverev won a mystery-laden US Open match that was delayed by three hours Friday after New York state apparently staged a last-minute intervention to try to prevent opponent Adrian Mannarino from playing.
France’s Mannarino said he was about to go on court for his 2:30 pm (1630 GMT) start when tournament organisers told him the state’s health department had contacted them to say he should be quarantining in his hotel room.
“That was big news for me. I mean, I was ready to go on court,” Mannarino told reporters after Zverev defeated him 6-7 (4/7), 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 to progress to the last 16 at Flushing Meadows.
Mannarino was one of several players put under enhanced safety protocols earlier this week after compatriot Benoit Paire was withdrawn from the US Open on Sunday following a positive test for coronavirus.
Up to 11 players who had been in contact with Paire signed an agreement with New York City authorities placing them under tighter restrictions in exchange form them being allowed to remain in the tournament.
They were to be tested every day, rather than every four days, and were only allowed to leave their hotel room to travel to the US National Tennis Center. Previously they had...
