Jannik Sinner had a difficult debut at the US Open after the recent events in his doping case and his subsequent innocence. The Italian had to deal with the pressure and his attitude to turn his first match in New York around. Nevertheless, the world number 1 did not disappoint and left Arthur Ashe with a victory in his bag that cleared his head and allowed him to focus on what was most important: tennis. So, in the press conference, Sinner spoke about what happened during the low of the first set against Mackenzie McDonald and what it was like to play again after the recent turmoil.
– What happened in the first sentence?
“I felt like Mackenzie was playing great tennis and didn’t miss a single shot. I struggled a little to find a style of play. We prepared in a certain way and he read my game pretty well, which is normal. The first rounds are never easy, especially in Grand Slams. I was a set and a break down, so the break in the second set gave me a little confidence. And after he raised my level, he dropped his a little bit.”
– His first game after his case became known
“I think the reaction from the fans has been great, even when the news first came out. There has been a lot of support at the training sessions, which made me very happy. It’s still not easy; you have to take it day by day. I’m very happy to be in the position I am in, but yes, I have to take it step by step. Tomorrow I have a day off; it will be a training day, and I hope to be ready and start the next game very positively. We’ll see if I can do it or not, it will be interesting to see.”
– “Many positive things that I can take with me today”
“I’m excited to see how the fans react, but they’ve been very positive. I’ve been very happy with the support; playing against an American is a bit different. I’m happy with how I handled the situation; it wasn’t easy. I think there are a lot of positives to take away from today.”
– On the reactions of his teammates
“There were some reactions, yes. I can’t control what they think or say. That’s just how it was and I’ve already spoken about it, right? I can’t control the players’ reactions and if I have something to say to someone, I say it personally because that’s just the way I am. Overall, it wasn’t bad so I’m happy with it.”
– The Olympic Games were his priority
“At the beginning of the year I said the Olympics were one of my main goals, if not the biggest. I missed the first Games. So the second Games would have been very special, in Paris, in Europe, very close to home. If I had had the chance to play without being sick and to be able to compete, I would have been over the moon. Representing Italy is always a great privilege and an honour for me. This time it wasn’t like that, hopefully next time in four years. There’s still a long way to go, but I hope it will be very special.”
This message is an automatic translation. You can read the original messages, Sinner: “There are many positive things to take away today”
