World number one Jannik Sinner expressed gratitude to his fans on Tuesday for their unwavering support amidst a doping scandal that preceded the US Open. He acknowledged that opinions among his peers regarding the issue are varied, yet the general response has been positive. Sinner managed to secure a 2-6 6-2 6-1 6-2 win against American Mackenzie McDonald, advancing to the second round of the year's final Grand Slam. The 23-year-old Australian Open champion has faced significant scrutiny since the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) reported two positive tests for an anabolic agent in March. Despite this, Sinner maintains his innocence and has continued to compete after successfully contesting provisional suspensions.
"The support from fans has been outstanding, especially noticeable during practice sessions and after the news broke, which I greatly appreciate," Sinner shared with the media. "It's still challenging, but I take it day by day... I was eager to gauge fan reaction, and it's been overwhelmingly positive." He also noted the unique challenge of playing against an American opponent. Following the ITIA's disclosure, several players criticized what they perceived as double standards in tennis, implying that Sinner had been favored. Fifth seed Daniil Medvedev questioned the clarity of anti-doping rules and advocated for uniform application across all players.
"I agree with Taylor Fritz's perspective. Only Sinner truly knows what transpired, so we can't judge," Medvedev stated. He further highlighted the provisional suspensions players face even when they are unaware of how a banned substance entered their system. Sinner was exonerated from fault or negligence after a tribunal believed his claim of accidental contamination by his physiotherapist. Medvedev commented, "Sinner knew what happened and successfully defended himself. The tricky part is that ignorance leads to suspension, which is how doping rules operate."
Sinner, set to face American Alex Michelsen in the second round, admitted he cannot influence his fellow players' opinions about the incident. "I can't control their reactions or discussions. I've already addressed it," Sinner remarked. "If I need to communicate with someone, I prefer to do it privately, as that's my nature. Overall, the reaction has been manageable, and I'm content with that."
