Jannik Sinner embraced the U.S. Open crowd on Tuesday afternoon.
The Italian tennis star took a 2-6, 6-2, 6-1, 6-2 win against American Mackenzie McDonald at Arthur Ashe Stadium in Queens after escaping suspension despite failing two performance-enhancing drug tests.
After the match, he spoke about how he hung in and said he appreciated the folks in attendance.
“I tried to stay there mentally and I tried to get into rhythm, just tried to keep going, so I’m very happy to be in the next round. It’s the first time I have won in this court so I am very happy,” he said on the court after his match.
“I have room to improve so I am looking forward to this one and see what I can do. … “It means a lot to me. The support is always amazing so thank you everyone for coming and staying.”
Sinner, the No. 1 ranked men’s tennis player in the world, is playing in the final Grand Slam of the season after the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) found that clostebol, the banned substance he tested positive for, unintentionally through a massage from his physiotherapist.
“I will now put this challenging and deeply unfortunate period behind me,” Sinner said in a statement earlier this month. “I will continue to do everything I can to ensure I continue to comply with the ITIA’s anti-doping (program) and I have a team around me that are meticulous in their own compliance.”
He first tested positive at Indian Wells in March and again eight days later in an out-of-competition sample.
Sinner, 23, was forced to return $325,000 in prize money and lose 400 rankings points for the failed drug test at Indian Wells.
He won his first Grand Slam title in January after coming out on top in the Australian Open.
In June, Sinner reached the semifinals at the French Open and, a month later, the quarterfinals at Wimbledon.
He sat out the Paris Olympics with what he claimed to be a bout of tonsillitis.
Ahead of his 2024 U.S. Open debut, Sinner expressed regret that the tournament was clouded by the doping scandal.
“Of course, it’s not ideal before a Grand Slam,” Sinner said, per USOpen.org. “But in my mind, I know that I haven’t done anything wrong. I had to play already months with this in my head, but just remembering myself that I haven’t done really anything wrong. I always respect these rules, and I always will respect these rules of anti-doping.”
Sinner will next take on American Alex Michelsen in the second round in Flushing.
