Sinner’s Comeback Victory in Round 1 of the 2024 US Open
USA – Top seed Jannik Sinner overcame a first-set loss to defeat MacKenzie McDonald 2-6, 6-2, 6-1, 6-2 in the first round of the 2024 US Open.
Sinner entered the match with a shaky mindset due to issues surrounding a failed doping test. He lost his opening service game and dropped two out of his remaining three service games in the first set. Sinner won only 29% of points on his second serve, half that of McDonald, and faced 10 break points. With 14 unforced errors, Sinner quickly lost the first set in just 44 minutes.
McDonald, a talented player who has slipped out of the ATP top 100 but was close to breaking into the top 30 last year, proved to be a tough opponent. However, once Sinner regained his focus in the second set, few players on the tour could match his level. The top seed played a completely different game in the next three sets, improving his serve and hitting with more precision. Sinner did not drop a service game in the final three sets and faced only one break point, which he successfully saved.
“The first match of any tournament is never easy,” Sinner said after the nearly three-hour match. “McDonald played really well, and you have to acknowledge that. I just tried to get back into the rhythm, stay mentally strong, and I saw my opportunities. This is my first win at Arthur Ashe, and I’m very happy.”
Sinner has now won 12 consecutive first-round matches in Grand Slam tournaments since Wimbledon 2021. This year, he is undefeated in 12 opening matches on the ATP Tour. The 23-year-old’s win-loss record for the season stands at 49-5 as he aims for his sixth title of the year.
Another high seed, Stefanos Tsitsipas, faced difficulties but was unable to overcome them, losing to Thanasi Kokkinakis 6-7, 6-4, 3-6, 5-7. This marks the second consecutive year that Tsitsipas has exited the US Open early. The Greek player is in a severe slump, struggling with consistent defeats, conflicts with his father, and the ongoing search for a new coach.
Felix Auger-Aliassime also delivered a disappointing performance, losing 2-6, 4-6, 2-6 to 18-year-old rising star Jakub Mensik, who is currently ranked 65th in the ATP. Like Tsitsipas, Auger-Aliassime has been plagued by instability despite changing his coaching team and ending his collaboration with coach Toni Nadal.
