Jannik Sinner returned to competition for his first match since his anti-doping case was made public. He recovered from the shock to defeat Mackenzie McDonald 2-6, 6-2, 6-1, 6-2 to reach the second round of the US Open.
Sinner had a tough start against McDonald, ranked 140 and out of form this year, trailing by a set and a break at 2-6, 0-1. Just when the match seemed to be getting away from him, he started to turn it around. After making 14 unforced errors in the opening 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 men’s world No. 1 had failed two anti-doping tests in March, before an independent tribunal ruled that Sinner was not at fault or 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 their daily sessions.
Since the news broke, Sinner has been positively received by the New York crowd. There was a similar event on Tuesday, before a sparse and subdued crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
“I didn’t start in the best way, but the first matches in the biggest tournaments are definitely not easy,” Sinner said. “I’m very happy to be in the next round, the first time I win on this court after a few tries.”
Naomi Osaka began her tournament with the best result of her comeback since giving birth, beating 10th seed Jelena Ostapenko 6-3, 6-2 to reach the second round in New York.
After being handed a tough draw against 2017 French Open champion Ostapenko, Osaka was ready and played a brilliant match, backing up her elite serve with clean, relentless ball-striking to secure her first top-10 win since January 2020.
After sitting back in her chair, the 26-year-old cried into her towel. “It’s been so much hard work, so much, like, dreaming and wishing, and I hope I can keep going. Right now I’m really happy with how I played,” Osaka said.
Iga Swiatek, the No. 1 seed, advanced to the second round with a tough 6-4, 7-6(6) victory over Kamilla Rakhimova after saving three set points in the second-set tiebreak from a 3-6 deficit.
Meanwhile, Danielle Collins refused a farewell presentation after her first-round defeat 1-6, 7-5, 6-4 to compatriot Caroline Dolehide.
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To commemorate Collins’ final Grand Slam match before her season-ending retirement, US Open tournament director Stacey Allaster stood at the entrance to the court with a bouquet of flowers, but the 11th-seeded team quickly decided to make a quick exit.
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“I asked not to do a pitch presentation,” Collins said. “I’m not someone who likes to celebrate my achievements. I’ve struggled with guilt about success, and I’ve had to work on that. So I’m not really good at having a moment that’s just about me, to be honest.
“I would rather do something like that in secret, you know. But I feel like I’ve gotten enough attention for a lifetime.
“I was kind of thinking about that movie, I think it was Meet the Parents or Meet the Fockers, where, you know, Gaylord has a shrine and all of his 18th place medals. I don’t want to be like Gaylord, so I think I’m good.”