Sinner eyes smooth start after controversy
The first round of the U.S. Open continues on Tuesday as the world’s top players battle for Grand Slam glory in New York.
A host of big names will be in action as men’s top seed Jannik Sinner meets Mackenzie McDonald while women’s top seed Iga Swiatek meets Kamila Rakhimova.
French Open and Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz will also get his campaign underway against Li Tu while former Grand Slam champions Jelena Ostapenko and Naomi Osaka are set to face off.
TOP MEN’S MATCH: SINNER v McDONALD
Controversy has surrounded Australian Open champion Sinner in the week before the year’s final Grand Slam. The Italian escaped a doping ban having been cleared after twice testing positive for the banned drug clostebol in March.
Sinner, who maintains his innocence, has continued to play after successfully challenging provisional suspensions and comes into the match on the back of winning the Cincinnati title but he has been under intense scrutiny in New York so far.
“It’s not ideal before a Grand Slam,” Sinner said.
“But in my mind I know I haven’t done anything wrong. I had to play already for months with this in my head, but remembering that I haven’t done really anything wrong.
“I always respect that these rules and I always will respect these rules of anti-doping. Obviously a relief for myself having this result. It’s just good to be back here … I’ll just try to enjoy as much as I can and hopefully have a good tournament.”
The 23-year-old has weathered the storm so far but will hope to avoid a hostile reception from fans when he takes on American McDonald in the day session at Arthur Ashe.
TOP WOMEN’S MATCH: SWIATEK v RAKHIMOVA
Iga Swiatek will look to hit the ground running after a run to the Cincinnati semis as the Pole returns to the venue of her 2022 triumph still not as assured on hardcourts as she is on clay.
“In 2022, that was the Grand Slam that I was least chilled at. Even though I won, I didn’t feel comfortable on the court at all. I didn’t feel like I can play my game naturally,” she said.
“It would be stupid for me to expect that I’m going to feel it (in the) next years. The 2022 Open actually taught me that I can win even though I’m not feeling 100%.
“So I wouldn’t say I’m relaxed, because it’s impossible to be relaxed in New York, especially, with everything that’s going on around.”
OSAKA FACES TRICKY TEST
Osaka has struggled to find the form that led her to four Grand Slam titles, including two at New York, after returning to the tour from a lengthy maternity break.
She faces a tricky hurdle in her opener in the form of 2017 French Open champion Ostapenko.
U.S. OPEN ORDER OF PLAY ON TUESDAY
Here is the order of play on the main showcourts on the second day of the U.S. Open (prefix number denotes seeding):
ARTHUR ASHE STADIUM (1600 GMT/12 PM ET)
1-Iga Swiatek (Poland) v Kamilla Rakhimova (Russia)
1-Jannik Sinner (Itay) v Mackenzie McDonald (U.S.)
3-Carlos Alcaraz (Spain) v Li Tu (Australia)
Shelby Rogers (U.S.) v 6-Jessica Pegula (U.S.)
LOUIS ARMSTRONG STADIUM (1500 GMT/11 AM ET)
11-Danielle Collins (U.S.) v Caroline Dolehide (U.S.)
10-Jelena Ostapenko v Naomi Osaka (Japan)
Dusan Lajovic (Serbia) v 5-Daniil Medvedev (Russia)
Bianca Andreescu (Canada) v 5-Jasmine Paolini (Italy)
Lorenzo Sonego (Italy) v 14-Tommy Paul (U.S.)