Jannik Sinner returned to competitive play for his first match since his doping case was revealed and recovered from an early scare to defeat Mackenzie McDonald 2-6, 6-2, 6-1, 6-2 to reach the second round of the US Open.
Sinner struggled early against McDonald, ranked 140th and out of form this year. He was down a set and a break at 2-6, 0-1. Just when the match seemed to be slipping away from him, he started to turn it around. After making 14 unforced errors in the first set alone, Sinner finished the last three sets with just 15 unforced errors in total.
Last week, the International Tennis Integrity Agency revealed that the world No. 1 in men’s tennis had failed two anti-doping tests in March before an independent tribunal ruled that Sinner was neither at fault nor negligent for the positive tests. Sinner successfully argued that the positive tests were the result of contamination after his physiotherapist treated a cut on his finger with an over-the-counter spray containing the banned substance clostebol before massaging Sinner during her daily treatment.
Since the news broke, Sinner has received a positive response from New York audiences, and a similar picture emerged on Tuesday in front of a sparse, reserved crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
“I didn’t start off perfectly, but of course the first matches in the biggest tournaments aren’t easy,” said Sinner. “I’m very happy to be in the next round. After a few attempts, this is the first time I’ve won on this court.”
Naomi Osaka, meanwhile, began her tournament with the best result of her comeback since giving birth, defeating 10th seed Jelena Ostapenko 6-3, 6-2 to reach the second round in New York.
Despite being handed a difficult draw against 2017 French Open champion Ostapenko, Osaka rose to the occasion and played a brilliant match, backing up her superb serves with clean, relentless ball-striking to secure her first top-10 victory since January 2020.
After sitting back down on her chair, the 26-year-old cried into her towel. “It was so much hard work, so many dreams and wishes, and I hope I can keep going. At the moment I’m really happy with my game,” Osaka said.
No. 1 seed Iga Swiatek reached the second round with a hard-fought 6-4, 7-6(6) win over Kamilla Rakhimova, fending off three set points in the second set tiebreak after recovering from a 3-6 deficit.
Danielle Collins, meanwhile, refused to withdraw after her 1-6, 7-5, 6-4 first-round loss to compatriot Caroline Dolehide.
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To commemorate Collins’ last Grand Slam match before her retirement at the end of the season, US Open tournament director Stacey Allaster stood at the entrance to the court with a bouquet of flowers, but the 11th seed decided to make a quick exit.
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“I had asked not to do a presentation on the pitch,” Collins said. “I’m not someone who likes to celebrate my successes. I struggled with guilt about success and that was something I needed to work on. To be honest, I’m not very good at having moments where everything revolves around me.”
“I’d rather do something like this privately, you know. But I feel like I’ve had enough attention to last a lifetime.
“I kind of had to think of that movie, I think it was Meet the Bride, Her Father and Me or My Wife, Her In-Laws, where Gaylord has a shrine and all his medals for 18th place. I don’t want to be like Gaylord, so I think I’m good.”
