The U.S. Open crowd was no mercy for Jannik Sinner on Tuesday afternoon.
The Italian tennis star avoided a suspension despite twice failing tests for performance-enhancing drugs and took to the field to a flurry of boos before her 2-6, 6-2, 6-1, 6-2 win over American Mackenzie McDonald at Arthur Ashe Stadium in Queens.
“I just tried to stay in that place mentally, tried to get in rhythm and just keep going, so I'm very happy to be in the next round. It's my first time winning on this court so I'm very happy,” he said on court after the match.
“I still have room to improve so I'm looking forward to this match and want to see what I can do.”
World number one ranked men's tennis player, Sinner, will miss the final Grand Slam of the season after an International Tennis Integrity Authority (ITIA) test revealed he unintentionally tested positive for the banned substance clostebol during a massage by a physiotherapist.
“We can now put this difficult and very unfortunate period behind us,” Sinner said in a statement earlier this month. “I will continue to do everything in my power to remain in compliance with the ITIA anti-doping (program) and I have a team surrounding me that is extremely vigilant about compliance.”
He first tested positive at Indian Wells in March, then tested positive again eight days later in an out-of-competition sample.
The 23-year-old Sinner was forced to give up $325,000 in prize money and lose 400 ranking points after failing a drugs test at Indian Wells.
He won his first Grand Slam title when he won the Australian Open in January.
In June, Sinner reached the semifinals at the French Open and then the quarterfinals at Wimbledon a month later.
He missed the Paris Olympics due to tonsillitis.
Ahead of his U.S. Open debut in 2024, Sinner said he was disappointed the tournament had been clouded by a doping scandal.
“Obviously, it's not ideal before a Grand Slam,” Sinner said. From USOpen.org“But in my heart I know I did nothing wrong. I had to play with this in my head for months and I tell myself I really did nothing wrong. I have always respected these rules and I will always respect the anti-doping rules.”
Sinner will next face American Alex Mikkelsen in the second round in Flushing.
