Jannik Sinner defeated American Alex Michelsen 6-4, 6-0, 6-2 to advance to the US Open round two, but the doping scandal that hit him before the competition is still the talk of the town among the top players in the world.
Although Sinner was found not guilty or negligent by an impartial panel that acknowledged that the drug had unintentionally entered his system, the consequences of his case are still being felt in the public eye.
Several people have questioned how and why Sinner was cleared after testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance twice in March, including former Wimbledon finalist Nick Kyrgios.
Kyrgios is currently employed by ESPN at the US Open, so he may get to speak with Sinner face-to-face. When the outspoken Australian asked Kyrgios how he would feel about being interviewed, the Italian was cautious not to inflame things by getting into a verbal altercation with him.
Sinner talked about it and said: “I don’t want to respond to what he said. Everyone is free to say everything. It’s ok. If that is the case, let’s see. It’s going to be different for sure (smiling). I don’t know what to say. Maybe I say something now and then the reaction will be something else. I’m always quite relaxed. I’m someone who forgets things quite fast. Everyone is free to say everything. It is what it is.”
When Sinner was questioned about how the other players in the locker room were responding to his presence, he hinted that some had been more friendly than others.
He added: “It helps me to see who my friends are and who are not my friends. Then, you know, you see that some people are sick. Different things come to my mind. I said, Okay, tennis is big for me because it showed me what I am as a person and how important the sport is, but on the other way there is a life outside of tennis, which is even more important. Trying to be healthy, surround yourself with good people. That is more important for me. Then on the tennis court, obviously I try to do my best. I try to fight and let the spectators enjoy the show. I believe that I have also grown as a person during this period regardless of how everything is going, which hopefully can help me in the future.”
Sinner at the U.S. Open, ranking, and results in 2024
At the moment ranked no.1, the Italian has achieved a 50-5 record in 2024. Jannik is currently playing at the U.S. Open where he toppled the world no.140 Mackenzie Mcdonald 2-6 6-2 6-1 6-2
and the world no.49 Alex Michelsen 6-4 6-0 6-2.Jannik Sinner will come up against the world no.87 Christopher O Connell in the 3rd round. Their record is 1-1.
Jannik clinched 5 titles in 2024 at the Australian Open, Rotterdam, Miami, Halle and Cincinnati.
Sinner won 16 titles in his career: 7 on hard courts, 1 on clay courts, 7 on indoor courts and 1 on grass courts. (See the list of his titles)
Sinner has scheduled to compete next in Beijing (China Open). He will start from the main draw that will commence on the 23rd of September.
Nick Kyrgios in 2024
Currently the world no.470, Nick played his last match on the 13th of June 2023 when he was overcome by world no.416 Yibing Wu 7-5 6-3 in the 1st round in Stuttgart (draw).
This year Kyrgios has an overall 0-1 win-loss record.
Jannik Sinner and Nick Kyrgios squared off just on 1 occasion. Their current head to head is 1-0 for Sinner. When they played, Jannik Sinner won 7-6(3) 6-3 in the 4th round in Miami (Miami Open) in March 2022.
Here the video highlights.
Jannik Sinner and Nick Kyrgios |
| Embed from Getty Images |