Jannik Sinner, competing for the first time since news of his doping case surfaced, secured a win at the U.S. Open on Tuesday. The Italian player, ranked No. 1, faced American Mackie McDonald and won in four sets with scores of 2-6, 6-2, 6-1, 6-2.
Initially, Sinner struggled, making several unforced errors in the opening set and losing to McDonald, who is currently ranked 140th. However, Sinner regained his form, delivering a strong performance in the subsequent sets and minimizing errors. His victory propels him to the second round at Flushing Meadows.
Despite some initial tension surrounding his recent doping scandal—Sinner tested positive for trace amounts of the anabolic steroid Clostebol—there were no overt boos or negative reactions from the audience. The doping case was made public only last week, revealing that Sinner had tested positive twice in March but was cleared of intentional wrongdoing. The substance had entered his system through a massage from a physiotherapist who unknowingly used a contaminated product.
In his first public remarks on the matter, Sinner addressed the situation, mentioning that he had dismissed the fitness trainer and physiotherapist involved. The doping case has faced criticism from other players, including Novak Djokovic, questioning the fairness of the handling process and treatment of different athletes.
Sinner, known for his resilience and strong performance on hard courts, improved his record to 29-2 this season, with four titles including his first Grand Slam win at the Australian Open. He will next face Alex Michelsen, another American player.
McDonald, who briefly excelled during the match, noted Sinner’s relentless pressure and fast returns, highlighting the challenge of maintaining high performance against such a skilled opponent.
