Sinner starts slow at US Open but wins 1st match since steroids case emerged

Jannik Sinner began his U.S. Open campaign with a 2-6, 6-2, 6-1, 6-2 victory over Mackie McDonald.

The match took place at Arthur Ashe Stadium, where the reception for Sinner was subdued with polite applause and no notable criticism. This was Sinner's first match since his doping case was made public last week.

Sinner, the top-seeded player, started the match slowly, making 14 unforced errors in the opening set. His errors included double faults and missed volleys, which allowed McDonald to win the first set. Sinner, however, corrected his game and committed only 15 unforced errors in the remaining three sets, with none in the third set.

The doping issue came to light last week when it was reported that Sinner tested positive for trace amounts of Clostebol, an anabolic steroid, in March. Sinner was fined and had his ranking points reduced from the tournament where the positive test occurred. However, he avoided suspension after it was determined that the substance entered his system unintentionally through a massage from his physiotherapist. Sinner responded by dismissing both the fitness trainer who purchased the Clostebol-containing spray and the physiotherapist who administered it.

During his post-match interview, Sinner was not questioned about the doping case, which has faced criticism from some players, including Novak Djokovic, regarding its handling. Sinner will face Alex Michelsen in his next match. This season, Sinner has performed strongly on hard courts, with a 29-2 record and four titles, including his first Grand Slam win at the Australian Open.