Sinner Starts Poorly at US Open but Wins First Match Since His Steroids Case Emerged 

Jannik Sinner, of Italy, reacts after scoring a point against Mackenzie McDonald, of the United States, during the first round of the US Open tennis championships, Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2024, in New York. (AP)
Jannik Sinner, of Italy, reacts after scoring a point against Mackenzie McDonald, of the United States, during the first round of the US Open tennis championships, Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2024, in New York. (AP)
TT

Sinner Starts Poorly at US Open but Wins First Match Since His Steroids Case Emerged 

Jannik Sinner, of Italy, reacts after scoring a point against Mackenzie McDonald, of the United States, during the first round of the US Open tennis championships, Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2024, in New York. (AP)
Jannik Sinner, of Italy, reacts after scoring a point against Mackenzie McDonald, of the United States, during the first round of the US Open tennis championships, Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2024, in New York. (AP)

If there were any boos directed Jannik Sinner's way at the US Open, they were imperceptible amid the polite applause from the sparse crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium when he was introduced Tuesday before the No. 1-ranked man's first match since his doping case emerged a week ago.

After a sloppy and slow opening set, Sinner pulled away for a 2-6, 6-2, 6-1, 6-2 victory against Mackie McDonald of the United States to reach the second round at Flushing Meadows.

“The response from fans, I feel it has been great. Also throughout, when the news came out, in the practice sessions, there was a lot of support, which I’m very glad and happy about,” Sinner said. “It is still a little bit not easy. You have to go through, day by day.”

There were no apparent signs in the stands or disparaging shouts making reference to what no one knew about for months: Sinner tested positive twice for trace amounts of the anabolic steroid Clostebol in an eight-day span in March.

Nothing was announced publicly until last week, when word came that the 23-year-old Italian was docked prize money and ranking points from the tournament where the first result appeared, but he escaped a suspension because it was ruled he was not at fault and the drug entered his system unintentionally, through a massage from his physiotherapist.

In his first public comments on the matter, at a pre-tournament news conference Friday, Sinner said he had fired the fitness trainer who bought an over-the-counter spray containing Clostebol in Italy and the physiotherapist who used it for a cut on his finger before treating the player and transferring the substance to his body.

During a brief on-court interview in Ashe, Sinner wasn't asked about the case, which has drawn some criticism from other players, including Novak Djokovic, about the way it was handled and questions about whether certain athletes are treated differently than others when it comes to the process for determining punishments related to doping.

“I cannot really control what they think and what they (say). I cannot control the players’ reaction,” Sinner said. “If I have something to say to someone, I go there privately, because I’m this kind of person. But, look, overall, it has been not bad. So I’m happy about that.”

Against McDonald, an American ranked 140th who fell to 4-13 in 2024, Sinner was way off the mark at the outset. He double-faulted. He put what should have been an easy smash into the net. He messed up volleys. It added up to 14 unforced errors in the initial set, helping McDonald grab five games in a row from 2-all to collect that set and go up a break in the second.

“I made him see a lot of balls. I served really well, too. I was defending super well,” said McDonald, who beat Rafael Nadal at the 2023 Australian Open. “My level just decreased, which is disappointing. I feel like I can play some really good tennis, which I did for a little bit. But to do that for a long time against a guy like that was too tough for me.”

Sinner turned things around quickly in the second set, making just 15 unforced errors combined over the last three sets, including zero in the third, and next will face another American, Alex Michelsen.

The way Sinner picked up his play is what everyone is used to seeing from him, particularly on hard courts like those used in New York. He improved to 29-2 on the surface this season with four titles, including his first Grand Slam trophy at the Australian Open in January.

“He just constantly pressures you,” McDonald said. “The ball is coming back so fast, over and over and over.”



Sinner Eyes Smooth Start to US Open Campaign After Controversy 

Jannik Sinner of Italy speaks to the media during a press conference ahead of the 2024 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 23, 2024 in New York City. (Getty Images/AFP)
Jannik Sinner of Italy speaks to the media during a press conference ahead of the 2024 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 23, 2024 in New York City. (Getty Images/AFP)
TT

Sinner Eyes Smooth Start to US Open Campaign After Controversy 

Jannik Sinner of Italy speaks to the media during a press conference ahead of the 2024 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 23, 2024 in New York City. (Getty Images/AFP)
Jannik Sinner of Italy speaks to the media during a press conference ahead of the 2024 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 23, 2024 in New York City. (Getty Images/AFP)

The first round of the US Open continues on Tuesday as the world's top players battle for Grand Slam glory in New York.

A host of big names will be in action as men's top seed Jannik Sinner meets Mackenzie McDonald while women's top seed Iga Swiatek meets Kamila Rakhimova.

French Open and Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz will also get his campaign underway against Li Tu while former Grand Slam champions Jelena Ostapenko and Naomi Osaka are set to face off.

TOP MEN'S MATCH: SINNER v McDONALD

Controversy has surrounded Australian Open champion Sinner in the week before the year's final Grand Slam. The Italian escaped a doping ban having been cleared after twice testing positive for the banned drug clostebol in March.

Sinner, who maintains his innocence, has continued to play after successfully challenging provisional suspensions and comes into the match on the back of winning the Cincinnati title but he has been under intense scrutiny in New York so far.

"It's not ideal before a Grand Slam," Sinner said.

"But in my mind I know I haven't done anything wrong. I had to play already for months with this in my head, but remembering that I haven't done really anything wrong.

"I always respect that these rules and I always will respect these rules of anti-doping. Obviously a relief for myself having this result. It's just good to be back here ... I'll just try to enjoy as much as I can and hopefully have a good tournament."

The 23-year-old has weathered the storm so far but will hope to avoid a hostile reception from fans when he takes on American McDonald in the day session at Arthur Ashe.

TOP WOMEN'S MATCH: SWIATEK v RAKHIMOVA

Iga Swiatek will look to hit the ground running after a run to the Cincinnati semis as the Pole returns to the venue of her 2022 triumph still not as assured on hardcourts as she is on clay.

"In 2022, that was the Grand Slam that I was least chilled at. Even though I won, I didn't feel comfortable on the court at all. I didn't feel like I can play my game naturally," she said.

"It would be stupid for me to expect that I'm going to feel it (in the) next years. The 2022 Open actually taught me that I can win even though I'm not feeling 100%.

"So I wouldn't say I'm relaxed, because it's impossible to be relaxed in New York, especially, with everything that's going on around."

OSAKA FACES TRICKY TEST

Osaka has struggled to find the form that led her to four Grand Slam titles, including two at New York, after returning to the tour from a lengthy maternity break.

She faces a tricky hurdle in her opener in the form of 2017 French Open champion Ostapenko.