US Open 2024: Jannik Sinner forced to dig himself out of another hole as world No 1 survives scare in the wake of doping scandal

Not for the first time in recent months, Jannik Sinner found himself deep in a hole. Not for the first time, the Italian dug himself out at lightning speed.

It’s been a messy week for the world number one – and his sport – since it was announced last Tuesday that he had escaped a doping ban despite failing two tests for a banned anabolic steroid.

He has split with two of his team. He has faced tough questions and shrugged off accusations of special treatment. One rule for journeymen, another for the best player in the world – that is the opinion of several of Sinner’s colleagues.

Well, for an hour, no one could accuse MacKenzie McDonald of giving the Italian an easy pass. Through a set and a game, the American world number 140 was inspired. He broke Sinner’s serve again and again, and for a moment it looked as if he might break his resolve as well.

But Sinner had the answers. Just like when his anti-doping samples showed traces of clostebol in March. Within months of those positive tests, he could be chasing a second Grand Slam in 2024 over Arthur Ashe. And on Tuesday, he went from staring straight into the barrel to the second round in an hour and a half.

Sinner has spent much of this summer with clouds of uncertainty hanging over his head. He was worried that news of his failed tests would leak into the public domain. He was concerned that the International Tennis Integrity Agency would believe his argument that the negative results were the result of a spray, a cut finger and a contaminated massage.

Last week he admitted that he too was unsure what impact his whole saga would have on his reputation as the best player in world tennis.

Well, it certainly tarnished the buildup to this tournament. It also finished off many of his peers. But it seems the tennis public is more forgiving. Maybe they were swayed by his pleas for innocence. Or maybe Sinner got lucky with the schedule. Maybe fans would have been a little more hostile if this had been a night match and the Queens bartenders had sold a few more honey deuces. We’ll never know.

Arthur Ashe was barely half empty when Sinner walked out of the locker room Tuesday afternoon. If a few fans booed, as snippets on social media suggested, they were barely audible in the stadium — or distinguishable from the booing and jeering.

It was just a shame for the world number one that McDonald did not show him such compassion. Sinner was immediately wrong-footed by the American, who forced five break points in the opening match before finally capitalizing. He did not leave it at that.

McDonald had chances to break in each of Sinner’s first five service games. Sinner was erratic – making unforced error after unforced error – but the Italian was also pulled across the court by McDonald’s superb athleticism and touch around the net.

After one sliding passing shot, Sinner could only applaud. McDonald broke three times on his way to sealing the first set in 45 minutes. The American then immediately turned the knife, breaking Sinner’s first service game of set two.

Tennis matches at this level can often come down to just a handful of points and this first round clash hinged on seven deuces in the next game.

McDonald had the chance to extend his lead, but Sinner saved four match points. The world number 1 then squandered three chances of his own. McDonald paid the price for giving up a fourth.

From there, Sinner took off like a rocket. From 0-1, the Italian lost only two of the next 14 games and barely an hour after losing the opening set, he had one foot in the second round.

Suddenly he found the lines and McDonald did his best to stay on point. Suddenly Arthur Ashe’s mood soured – groans and sighs were heard as McDonald slid further and further from the upset.

The only surprise? After the world No. 1 broke early in the fourth, McDonald won two more games before going under. Sinner will be hoping his next few days go more smoothly.