Mladenovic accuses Bacsinszky of gamesmanship in Fed Cup tie

Kristina Mladenovic accused Fed Cup opponent Timea Bacsinszky of taking advantage of the rules during Switzerland's Fed Cup victory over France in the first round.

Bacsinszky defeated Mladenovic, 7-6 (4), 4-6, 7-5, in the third rubber to put Switzerland up 2-1, calling the trainer following a fall in the third set. She had also taken two breaks in her opening match against Alize Cornet, first when she was stung by a wasp and then for an injury.

"There was a wasp attack and the medical break against Alize,” Mladenovic, speaking in French, told reporters after the match. “…Today she fell, another medical. To me that's a lot in two days. There are rules. She uses them to the maximum. She's known for it. ''

But the Frenchwoman also congratulated her opponent, saying, "It was a very good match and a very high level."

Bacsinszky said that she had been concerned about reinjuring the knee that sidelined her in 2015, and wanted it examined.

"I was hurt and scared," she said, having been whistled at by the crowd following the match. "I did not choose to do this fall … And then, anyway, I was bleeding. And the rules say you have to stop the bleeding before resuming."

Switzerland will play Belarus—which defeated the Netherlands—in the semifinals.