World No. 1 Jannik Sinner showed his mettle on Tuesday at the US Open opener. Italian superstar Sinner did an ominous opening but came back strong as he opened his account with a convincing win in the match. The match epitomized early struggles and also the inexplicable skillset to flip a match.
Match Details
Jannik Sinner was facing American Mackenzie McDonald in the first round. The encounter ended 2-6, 6-2, 6-1, 6-2 in favor of Sinner. Especially the first set was tough for the top seed. McDonald was uncompromising, as he redirected the ball from the baseline pretty well. He was very strong and set Sinner in a difficult position right from the beginning.
The first set was marred by too much serving errors from Sinner and being caught out of position. He lost serve three times and gave McDonald the chance to take hold. As the match wore on, the capability to adjust and respond became clear of Sinner.
As the second set got underway, Sinner found his rhythm. The aim now was to make consistent returns and to rectify his service game. The change of strategy was real. He won the second set 6-2, and his game continued to get strong in the third and fourth sets as he dominated McDonald. Sinner turned seven of 13 break points across these two sets. Putting up an improved game, he went on to win the last two sets convincingly, 6-1 and 6-2, respectively.
Sinner’s Comments and Reflections
After the match, Sinner talked about his not-so-good start: “I started not in the best way, for sure. The first match in every tournament is not easy. You have to accept it.”
Legal Strategies and Asset Seizure: New York’s Move Against Trump Over Fraud Claims
He also reflected upon his process of finding rhythm and making adjustments. “He played really, really well at the beginning. I tried to stay mentally strong and get into a rhythm. Once I did that, I just tried to keep going,” Sinner explained.
Looking ahead, Sinner intends to use his day off wisely. He wants to regain his rhythm and prepare himself for the next round. Sinner will be up against Alex Michelsen, an American player. The last time they faced each other in Cincinnati, he emerged victorious. Sinner’s comments would seem to give the impression that he is ready to build on his previous victory with some necessary adjustment in game play.
Season Performance and Records of Jannik Sinner
Sinner has been in great form this season, holding a 49-5 record for the year. He has shown consistency in the opening rounds of tournaments. This win makes it 12 first-round wins on tour-level this year. This also extends Sinner’s unbeaten run in the Grand Slam first rounds without defeat since Wimbledon 2021.
This has been a good season for Sinner, with the recent performances just underlining that fact. The Italian won his first-ever Grand Slam title in Australian Open at the start of this year. He further went on to win a third ATP Masters 1000 crown in Cincinnati just prior to his arrival in New York for the US Open. Sinner currently stands in good stead in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin owing to such stellar performances throughout the year.
G7 Leaders Convene in Southern Italy for Summit in Puglia
With the victory, Sinner is on course to seal a tour-leading sixth singles title of the year. A great US Open and a great season record so far underpin his standing as one of the best players in the sport.
All in all, the comeback win of Jannik Sinner in the US Open opener showed his resilience and skill. Having gotten off to a poor start, Sinner then adjusted his game to win comfortably. His season has been brilliant so far, while his recent exploits have only added to an ever-growing list of achievements. What now comes next for Sinner is the challenge to sustain his momentum into the second round.