Mladenovic dishes out drama with back injury in Paris

The Frenchwoman suffered through her opener with some controversy

Published May 30, 2017

It wasn’t pretty, but No. 13-seeded Kristina Mladenovic eked out a painful win over American Jennifer Brady on day two of the first round. There was more than enough drama in the 3-6, 6-3, 9-7 match that lasted nearly three hours.

ALLEZ KIKI

The Chatrier crowd goes wild as @KikiMladenovic wins 2hr59min battle over Brady 3-6 6-3 9-7. #RG17 pic.twitter.com/vq61UYxKNu
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 29, 2017

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Mladenovic is considered one of the tournament favorites after winning nine of 11 matches in Stuttgart and Madrid and narrowly losing both finals. But she hurt her back in practice the day before the match and had to get treatment just three games into the first set.

1er tour incroyable..😨💪🏻😆👈🏻
Merci de me soutenir autant!
Soins, récup.. et on continue !!!! #RG17 #MyGame #NoLimit
📸Corinne Dubreuil /FFT pic.twitter.com/CgzCcukm8B
— Kristina Mladenovic (@KikiMladenovic) May 30, 2017

During the match, Mladenovic was often embroiled in conversations with the chair umpire to examine ball marks on the clay, giving herself extra time between points. Some viewers took to Twitter to opine that Mladenovic was stretching the limits of appropriate time, especially during the crucial late stages of the third set.

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#Mladenovic keeps complaining about calls... I wonder if this is just a mental game (wouldn't be surprised) #RG17
— Michele Galoppini (@MikGaloppini) May 29, 2017

@WeAreTennis this is ridiculous by #Mladenovic having 3min discussions with the empire, I think she's catching her breath after points #RG17
— Barney-Baxter (@debarnbb) May 29, 2017

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No reason to have such an at-length conversation about a ball mark on red clay. Umpire belongs back up in her chair. #Mladenovic #RG17
— Jonathan Scott (@jonscott9) May 29, 2017

After Mladenovic finally finished off match point to win the third set in 83 minutes, she tearfully went to shake Brady’s hand and was just as emotional in her post-match interview:

“When you are out there on the center court in front of your home crowd and playing a Grand Slam and you don't feel 100 percent...It's very bad and thousands of people can see that I'm pushing the ball and I'm not me, I just try to fight and find a solution.”

Mladenovic: “Blocked” back on Sunday. Physio worked on it endlessly. Felt better this morning. Hopes it will be fine Wednesday.
— WTA Insider (@WTA_insider) May 29, 2017

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The 24-year-old has some time to recover before she takes on clay-court specialist Sara Errani in the second round.

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