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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 in double quick time.
It has been a messy week for the world No 1 – and his sport - ever since it emerged last Tuesday he had escaped a drugs ban, despite failing two tests for a banned anabolic steroid.
He has split with two of his team. He has faced awkward questions and accusations of special treatment - why was his case kept under wraps? And how was it resolved so quickly? One rule for journeymen, another for the world’s best player – that’s the view of several of Sinner’s peers.
Well, for an hour here, no one could accuse MacKenzie McDonald of giving the Italian an easy pass. Over one set and one game of Sinner's return to the court, the American world No 140 was inspired. He broke the world No 1's serve time and again and it seemed briefly like he might break his resolve, too.
But Sinner had the answers. Just as he did when his anti-doping samples included traces of clostebol in March. Within a few months of those positive tests, the 23-year-old was free to chase a second Grand Slam of 2024 on Arthur Ashe. And on Tuesday, he went from staring down the barrel to the second round in an hour and a half. It finished 2-6 6-2 6-1 6-2.
Jannik Sinner overcame an early scare to beat America's MacKenzie McDonald on Tuesday
The world No 1 recovered from a set and a break down to reach the second round in four sets
Sinner has never gone beyond the quarter finals here and his preparations for this fortnight took a turbulent turn.
He spent much of this summer with clouds of uncertainty lingering overhead. He had been concerned that news of his failed tests could leak into the public domain.
He was worried whether the International Tennis Integrity Agency would believe his argument that the adverse results were the result of a spray, a cut finger and a contaminated massage.
He admitted last week that he was unsure, too, how his whole saga would impact his reputation as the best player in world tennis.
Well, it certainly stained the build-up to this tournament. It wound up many of his peers, too. But it seems the tennis public are rather more forgiving. Perhaps they were swayed by his pleas of innocence.
Or perhaps Sinner was fortunate with the schedule. Perhaps fans might have slightly more hostile if this had been a night game and the bartenders of Queens had sold a few more honey deuce cocktails. We’ll never know.
Sinner eventually triumphed 2-6 6-2 6-1 6-2 over the world No 140 on Arthur Ashe Stadium
Arthur Ashe was barely half-empty by the time Sinner wandered out from the locker rooms on Tuesday afternoon. If a few fans did boo, as clips on social media suggested, they were barely audible inside the stadium - or at least distinguishable from all the whooping and hollering.
'I was curious to see how the reaction of the fans would be,' Sinner admitted. 'I was very glad how the support was - also playing against an American, no? It's a little bit different. So I'm happy how I handled that situation.'
It was just a shame for the world No 1 that McDonald showed him no such sympathy. Sinner was immediately thrust on to the back foot by the American, who forced five break points in the opening game before eventually capitalizing. He did not stop there.
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 being pulled across the court by McDonald’s terrific athleticism and touch around the net.
After one sliding passing shot, Sinner could only applaud. McDonald broke three times en route to sealing the first set inside 45 minutes. The American then twisted the knife straight away, breaking Sinner’s first service game of set two.
The Italian world No 1 was given a warm reception despite his recent anti-doping scandal
Sinner thanks the fans after booking his place in the second round on Tuesday afternoon
Tennis matches at this level can so often hinge on only a handful of points and this first-round clash spun on its head across seven deuces in the very next game.
McDonald had the chance to cement his advantage but Sinner saved four game points. The world No 1 then squandered three chances of his own. McDonald paid the price for gifting him a fourth.
From there, Sinner moved through the gears. From 0-1, the Italian dropped just two of the next 14 games and barely an hour after dropping the opening set, he had one foot in the second round.
All of a sudden he was finding the lines and McDonald was scrapping to stay in every point. All of a sudden the mood had soured on Arthur Ashe – groans and sighs sounded as McDonald slipped further and further away from the upset.
The only surprise? After the world No 1 broke at the start of the fourth, McDonald won two more games before succumbing to defeat. Sinner will hope his next few days pass more smoothly.
On the atmosphere inside the locker room, he added: 'I cannot control the players' reaction, and if I have something to say to someone, I go there privately, because I'm this kind of person. But, overall, it has been not bad.'