Jannik Sinner admits overcoming early struggles after getting heavily booed by hostile New York crowd in US Open opener

Jannik Sinner defeated Mackenzie McDonald in four sets during their first-round match on Tuesday at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Jannik Sinner admits overcoming early struggles after getting heavily booed by hostile New York crowd in US Open opener

Jannik Sinner (Via Imago)

World No. 1 Jannik Sinner overcame a slow start on Tuesday to defeat American Mackenzie McDonald 2-6, 6-2, 6-1, 6-2 in the US Open first round. The Italian is bidding to win his second Grand Slam title of the season after his earlier success at the Australian Open.

It seemed like the recent doping case had taken its toll on Sinner, who struggled for rhythm initially. However, the top seed recovered in time and elevated his game.

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Sinner is aiming to win his sixth title of the season. Besides his Australian Open crown, he has secured Masters 1000 titles in Miami and Cincinnati. He didn’t play in the Paris Olympics due to a virus he sustained during Wimbledon.

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I started not in the best way. The first match is never easy. You have to accept it. He played really well in the beginning. I tried to stay there mentally. I tried to get into rhythm. I’m very happy to be in the next round. First time I got a win here on this court. So I’m very happy.
Jannik Sinner said in his post-match interview at the US Open

Sinner reached the Round of 16 in last year’s US Open and looks to extend his lead over Novak Djokovic at the top of the rankings. The Serbian is the defending US Open champion this year.

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Jannik Sinner’s bid for the US Open title began dicely

Top seed Jannik Sinner took some time to find his form in his US Open opener in New York. But once the World No. 1 got into his groove, he quickly secured his place in the second round of the tournament.

Jannik Sinner (2)
Jannik Sinner (Image via X)

Sinner defeated Mackenzie McDonald in four sets in Arthur Ashe Stadium. After losing the first set, where McDonald played well from the baseline, the World No.1 regained control. He powered through to finish the match in two hours and 23 minutes.

Despite dropping serve three times in the first set, Sinner bounced back by converting seven of his 13 break points in the next three sets. This victory keeps his perfect record in the first rounds of tour-level events this year, extending his Grand Slam first-round winning streak to 12 matches, starting from Wimbledon 2021.

If Sinner wins the US Open, he’ll become only the third player, alongside Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, to win both the Australian Open and the US Open in the same season this century. Four of his five titles this season have come on hard courts.

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