Some big names will be taking part in the day one night session. Aryna Sabalenka and Novak Djokovic will begin their campaigns while fans in New York can look forward to seeing the Americans Frances Tiafoe and Sloane Stephens.
But that is all from me here today. Thanks for tuning in and join us tomorrow for all news, reaction and of course, the play, from day two.
Tumaini Carayol’s report from Flushing Meadowns is in.
It was a much-needed victory for Gauff after a difficult period. Despite being one of the event favourites on her best surface at the Olympic Games, the 20-year-old endured a meek third‑round defeat on the clay of Roland Garros in Paris and then she compiled a 1-2 record between Toronto and Cincinnati.
As is usually the case when her form has dipped, Gauff has struggled with her forehand and second serve. Things were not easy for the third seed on her return to Arthur Ashe and the scoreline in the opening set was deceptive. The American faced break points in each of her opening three service games, saving six in total, but she served well in the decisive points and remained rock solid when she most needed to be. After closing out the set, Gauff relaxed and rolled into the second round having won nine games in a row.
It has been a good opening day for the Americans as Taylor Fritz leaned on his dominant forehand to beat Camilo Ugo Carabelli 7-5, 6-1, 6-2. The world No 12, the highest ranked of 17 American men in the main draw, won 79% of points on his first serve and converted seven of 11 break point chances to secure victory on Louis Armstrong.
Fritz is hoping to become the first American man to win a slam since Andy Roddick at the 2003 US Open. He will face Italy’s Matteo Berrettini in the second round.
Taylor Fritz dominant in his 2024 US Open debut 😤 pic.twitter.com/hZqqeb20MF
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 26, 2024
Madison Keys wins 6-4, 6-1 against Katerina Siniakova
Huge returns from Keys lead to a very good start for Keys at Flushing Meadows. Siniakova had 11 faults and the American was able to capatalise. She will take on the 18-year-old Joint in the second round.
On her game plan:
After the first couple of games I figured some things out. I knew at any moment she could hit some incredible shots so I tried to focus on my side of the court.
On her season:
I missed the beginning of the season. I had a good clay court season and had heartbreak at Wimbledon.I am really happy to be here at my tenth main draw at the US Open. Playing in New York is the greatest thing in the world.
Updated
Aryna Sabalenka has had a tumultuous year but she comes in to the US Open after winning the Cincinnati Open, her second title of the year.
In March, her former partner died and the day after, she practised in full view of the public before the Miami Open. A few days later, she took on her good friend Paula Badosa at that tournament, the only slight acquiescence to the situation being to forgo her usual media duties. It was little surprise when she made early exits in Miami and the event in Stuttgart that followed.
It is only now, months and an injury-enforced absence later, that the 26-year-old is able to recognise that she probably should have done things differently.
I thought I had to just keep going, keep playing, keep doing my thing to separate my personal life from my career life.
But at the end I would say I was struggling a lot healthwise because I didn’t stop. It was really emotional and really stressful, and kind of damaged my mental health at that point.
Probably, looking back right now, I would say that a better decision would have been to step back, reset and recharge, and start everything over again. But I did what I did. At the end I paid for my decision, but I’m really glad that I have tennis in my life and it’s really helped me go through whatever and get stronger.
Here is more of her conversation with Ben Bloom on struggling with grief and stress and her burgeoning rivalry with Iga Swiatek.
Maya Joint, 18, made her grand slam maindraw debut against the German veteran Laura Siegemund and managed a 6-4, 7-5 victory.
Joint won seven consecutive games to take control of the match in the first set when it was all tied at 4-4. The world No 135 wavered in the second set but found a way to see out the biggest win of her career.
This time last year, she was ranked 1390 in the world.
🇦🇺 Maya Joint, the third-youngest woman in the draw, wins her Grand Slam debut! pic.twitter.com/pnORDC6FKl
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 26, 2024
Naomi Osaka returns to the US Open tomorrow, her first since giving birth. A tasty match-up awaits in Jelena Ostapenko but Osaka is keen to play with confidence.
I made a promise to myself to be as confident as I can in the fact that I am who I am. Throughout the year I have had really hard matches, and it kind of dipped my confidence a little. I wouldn’t say that I played bad tennis. I just would say that I played really good players and I also learned a lot.
On Ostapenko, who is quite the character on-court, Osaka said:
I think it’s going to be really fun. She’s honestly one of my favorite players to watch. I think we are polar opposites in a way. I respect her a lot. She was the first player in our generation to win a Grand Slam [2017 French Open]. She’s a champion.
Gaël Monfils currently leads 4-3 in his first set against Diego Schwartzman. This will be the Argentine’s last US Open before his retirement. And Madison Keys, who is seeded 14th, also leads 4-3 against Katerina Siniakova.
Ben Shelton has just been interviewed on Sky Sports a few hours after his win.
On the power behind his shots:
I am working on my power. My dad always says one serve and volley a game so I am trying. It is not an insanely fast hard court so you have to find different ways to hit winners. When I did get into net today I thought I did well on the volley.
On being back in New York after his breakout year:
I am so happy to be back. I have learned a lot in the last year. I think I am better player than i was a year ago. I am not necessarily looking for respect as I have a bit more of a target on your back.
On being the American No 2 and trying to get to No 1:
It is not something i think about. I am more of a developmental type of person. Rankings are great but I want to play my best tennis and everything will come together after that.
Roberto Carballés Baena beat's Britain's Jon Choinski 6-2, 6-3, 5-7, 6-7, 3-6
Heartbreak for Choinski, who made it to the main draw through qualifiers. It took a lot of effort to maintain his level but he ultimately had too many unforced errors and was enable to convert the break points when it mattered. The Spaniard wins it in just under five hours.
Updated
Coco Gauff on her mindset after her victory:
There’s definitely a lot of pressure this tournament but I’m just enjoying it. Last year was incredible so I’m just bringing those vibes. Whatever happens, happens.
On the match itself:
“If I played this last week I feel like it would be really difficult, but my perspective has changed a lot in seven days. I was just trying to enjoy the match. I enjoyed it today and obviously it was straightforward, but even if it was tighter these are the moments you live for. I know the last few weeks have been a little bit tough and I think this has been the best tennis I have played in a while.
On what she has seen on social media that has inspired her:
Someone commented on my TikTok saying you’ve won in life, literally and figuratively, and there’s no point in piling pressure on yourself on a victory lap.
I’m just treating this tournament like that and if you defend something that means you won something. If you did it that means you can do it again, so whether I do it again this year or not, I am going to do it again - whether it’s 2024 or not, I will do it again.
Coco Gauff picks up where she left off last year! pic.twitter.com/I2vwKExyoP
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 26, 2024
Updated
Coco Gauff beats Varvara Gracheva 6-2, 6-0
It was close until it was not and the defending champion cruises into the next round after an extremely comfortable second set. Gauff hit her tenth ace in the final game and for her, in a summer where she has struggled, it was all about going back to the basics in front of a New York crowd that absolutely adore her.
Gauff is now the youngest player to register eight consecutive wins at the US Open since Maria Sharapova who won nine between 2006 and 2007. She is also the youngest player to secure 15 women’s singles win at the US Open since Caroline Wozniacki in 2010.
Updated
Gauff 6-2, 5-0 Gracheva* (*denotes server): Perfect backhand from Gauff to make it 30-30. She has to run to get there and she re-accelerates the ball just high enough to get it over the net but low enough that Gracheva is not able to force her into a volley after. It is again all Gauff and she takes another break. We have just hit the one hour mark on this match.
*Gauff 6-2, 4-0 Gracheva (*denotes server): We see Gracheva’s best point of this set. She sends Gauff crosscourt with a forehand and then immediately hits another one straight on. But Gauff gets away with a cheeky mis-hit and laughs at herself as she takes yet another game.
Gauff 6-2, 3-0 Gracheva* (*denotes server): Gracheva is not even playing poorly. She attempts to hit Gauff with some tough forehands but Guaff returns them with ease. A healthy lead now.
*Gauff 6-2, 2-0 Gracheva (*denotes server): It is one-way traffic on Arthur Ashe. She is staying calm and actually playing very simple tennis. But her technical skills, no matter how little variety she is showing, is just a class above.
Gauff 6-2, 1-0 Gracheva* (*denotes server): Gauff is soaking up everything Gracheva is throwing at her now. The Frenchwoman is not playing with same amount of depth she was in the first half of the first set and her shots are falling a bit shorter than where she wants them to go. At her fourth chance to break, Gauff forces Gracheva to move around, forcing her to net.
*Gauff 6-2 Gracheva (*denotes server): Gauff takes the first set! Another double fault seems to let her down but she closes out with an ace. Her service game has been inconsistent but the good ones have bailed her out as it is obvious that she is still hesitant to go all out with her forehand.
Updated
Gauff 5-2 Gracheva* (*denotes server): So good from Gauff. A beautiful crosscourt backhand return puts her 30-15 ahead and you can really see in the replay how technically perfect her movement is, and the follow-through with the shoulder return. On break point she forces Gracheva to volley or perform an exceptionally hard forehand and in return she gets an unforced error from her opponent. A double break for the defending champion.
Updated
*Gauff 4-2 Gracheva (*denotes server): Guaff starts with a double fault but then a pinpoint serve makes up for it. But Gracheva makes it 40-30 after another double fault from Gauff, her fourth of the match so far. They are all hitting the bottom area of the net, which means that her legs are already lacking power – a worrying sign this early in the match. But the American holds with a strong backhand.
Gauff 3-2 Gracheva* (*denotes server): Gracheva’s forehand is a bit shaky compared to her backhand. She tries to hit it with the same amount of power as her backhand, which is really solid, but her wrist often shakes and she lacks control. Gauff targets this successfully but the Frenchwoman’s serves are too precise at the end of the game. Gauff up next to serve with the break.
*Gauff 3-1 Gracheva (*denotes server): Gauff looks a bit shaky with a few slicing forehands but she is able to fend off the break with a couple of smart placed serves.
Gauff 0-1 Gracheva* (*denotes server): Gauff does not come into this tournament on form after crashing out in Wimbledon and the Olympics in the round of 16. The home crowd love her though and cheer her on even if she starts off a bit slow.
Coco Gauff will begin her title defence soon. A look back on this time last year.
Ben Shelton beats Dominic Thiem 6-4, 6-2, 6-2
The American, who is adored by the New York fans, never looked like he was wavering in the first round. An astonishing 91% first serve points won and 34 winners compared to Thiem’s 11 led to victory. Thiem, who will retire after this season and won this tournament in 2020, is cheered on by all the fans with Shelton himself leading the ovation.
Nothing but respect between Ben and Domi 🙌 pic.twitter.com/P4jJA6XKwb
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 26, 2024
Updated
Alexander Zverev beats Maximilian Marterer 6-2, 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-2
There was a wobble from the world No 4 but he is through to the second round. Marterer’s head seemed to go down in that third set and Zverev took the chance with both hands.
Updated
*Marterer 2-6, 7-6 (5), 3-6, 2-5 Zverev (*denotes server): This match is quickly slipping away from Marterer. He is at four double faults in this set and Zverev easily takes the break and is now serving for the match.
Updated
Marterer 2-6, 7-6 (5), 3-6, 2-4 Zverev* (*denotes server): Fourth set here on Granstand and Zverev goes up 30-0 with a speeding ace, his 20th of the match. He goes up to 40-0 with a backhand after only one return from Marterer and he sees out the game fairly quickly.
Let me take you through what is happening around the courts. Shelton is currently 2-1 up against Thiem in the third set after taking the first two 6-4, 6-2. Ruud just managed taking the first after a 7-2 tie-break against Bu.
A few more of the women’s matches have finished with Svitolina beating Carlé 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 while Diane Perry moves on to the second round after winning Wang Xiyu 7-6(2), 7-6(5).
Updated
Ugo Humbert beats Thiago Monteiro 6-3, 6-4, 6-4
The first match in the men’s side finishes with the Frenchman winning his first victory at the US Open since 2020 after three consecutive eliminations in the first round.
Zheng speaks after her win on coming back after the first set:
Amanda was hitting the ball really good in the first set. Every ball was going to the side and I couldn’t do anything. But in the second set, I got more into the rhythm; hit my shots and serves better.
On her Olympic gold and leaving her medal with her parents in China:
I went through five tough matches without stop. It was unbelievable journey. Like you said, I don’t have my gold medal with me but I know Novak Djokovic has his. But I am here in New York and want to focus on this tournament.
Olympic gold medalist Zheng Qinwen survives a valiant effort from Anisimova! pic.twitter.com/fUeC02FT6P
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 26, 2024
Zheng Qinwen beats Amanda Anisimova 4-6, 6-4, 6-2
Her 12th ace of the match takes her to 40-15 in the final game and at match point she seals it with a fantastic serve that her opponent can’t reach.
An exciting one that would not have looked out of place in the second round at Flushing Meadows but the Olympic champion goes through.
Zheng Qinwen is here to stay! 🙋♀️ pic.twitter.com/Ngp3Sldg8s
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 26, 2024
Updated
Erika Andreeva beats Yuan Yue 6-3, 7-6 (7)
The Russian, ranked 75th in the world, takes her first round match in straight sets against the world No 37. It marks Andreeva’s second slam in a row with a main draw win.
Updated
*Zheng 4-6, 6-4, 4-2 Anisimova (denotes server): At 30-0 for Zheng, Anisimova steals point in a 10-shot rally but again she does thing where she does even move for a shot she thinks may go out. Zheng hits a forehand that is obviously going in with the dip but the American – maybe because of the pain in her foot – stays put. Zheng sees it out with an ace, which she really needed to steady the ship.
Zheng 4-6, 6-4, 3-2 Anisimova* (denotes server): A stunning crosscourt forehand right on the paint from Anisimova makes it 40-15 but Zheng follows it up with one of her own. But the American is finally finding her stride in this set and another pinpoint forehand seals the game. She gets huge cheers from her home crowd with plenty of “Lets go, Amanda!” chants ringing out.
*Zheng 4-6, 6-4, 3-1 Anisimova (denotes server): The American breaks! She is still obviously struggling, even hitting a couple of backhands with only one hand but her team urges on with “one point at a time”.
And Shelton has taken the first set against Thiem. His 77% first serve rate in quite incredible compared to his opponents 39%.
Big reaction 😤
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 26, 2024
Ben Shelton grabs the first set 6-4 against Thiem! pic.twitter.com/B8XkIaPBf8
Zverev has lost the second set against Marterer. It went to a tie-break and while the fourth seed went up 4-2, his counterpart came through to take it 7-5.
*Zheng 4-6, 6-4, 2-0 Anisimova (denotes server): The American nets on the first serve immediately and the camera cuts to her team who do look a bit anxious. Zheng then hits a fantastic slice but then Anisimova drops her racquet and shakes her right wrist around. May have been just a hand cramp as she hits a beautiful return that is just in straight after. From there it is smooth sailing for Zheng.
Zheng 4-6, 6-4, 1-0 Anisimova* (denotes server): Excellent start for Zheng. Clear the movement is coming into play here. The Chinese is better defensively and as the rallies prolong that is going to go in her favour. She goes up 40-15 and she breaks in a very short game.
Thanks, Will. Hello again, everyone! Bit of a hold up on Louis Armstrong as Anisimova is getting her foot wrapped. It seems she jammed the ball of her foot in the middle of the second set.
Right, time to hand back to Yara. Enjoy the rest of the day, tennis heads!
Zheng takes the second set against Anisimova and the match is set to go the distance. There’s no doubt which player has the wind in her sails.
Donna Vekic beats Kimberly Birrell 6-4, 6-4
Vekic, the 23rd seed, has booked her place in the second round, rattling off straight sets to overcome Birrell.
Zheng 4-6, 5-4 Anisimova* (denotes server): Anisimova drops a couple of points on the way to a hold. Zheng now has the opportunity to serve for the second set.
Daria Kasatkina beats Jaqueline Cristian 6-2, 6-4
Kasatkina has powered her way into round two on Court Seven, dismissing her Romanian opponent in straight sets.
Daria Kasatkina dances her way into R2! 💃 pic.twitter.com/fibwQAChLM
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 26, 2024
Updated
Carballés Baena has taken the second set against Choinski, despite a slight wobble on serve which forced him to defend a break point. The Spaniard now leads 6-2, 6-3.
Choinski 2-6, 3-5 Carballés Baena* (denotes server): Carballés Baena has a chance to see out the second set on serve over on Court 16.
Zheng 4-6, 4-3 Anisimova* (denotes server): Anisimova denies Zheng a double break in the second set, holding off a succession of break points. The pair duke it out at deuce, the American finally prevailing after two excellent backhands.
Updated
On the men’s side of the draw, Alexander Zverev has won the first set against Maximilian Marterer 6-2, Shang Juncheng and Alexander Bublik have traded sets, Ugo Humbert won the first set against Thiago Monteiro 6-3 but trails 2-4 in the second, Roberto Bautista Agut is up 7-5, 3-1 against Luca Nardi, Hugo Grenier won the first set against Mitchell Krueger 6-4 and Dominic Stricker likewise against Francisco Comesana. Ben Shelton’s match against Dominic Thiem is under way at 2-1 to the American with the Austrian on serve.
Let’s do a short roundup, shall we? Donna Vekic leads Kimberly Birrell 6-4, 3-1 on Court 12, Daria Kasatkina leads Jaqueline Cristian 6-2, 5-4, Erika Andreeva is 6-3, 2-1 up against Yue Yuan, Elina Svitolina is up 4-1 in the second set against María Lourdes Carlé having lost the first 6-3, Jule Niemeier is a set up against Dayana Yastremska and Diane Parry has taken the first set against Wang Xiyu by tiebreak.
Elsewhere, Wang Yafan has got a walkover to the second round after Maria Sakkari had to retire. Wang had won the first set 6-2.
Wang Yafan moves on to Round 2 after Maria Sakkari is forced to retire from the match. pic.twitter.com/2LzEBkrTyv
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 26, 2024
*Choinski 2-6, 2-2 Carballés Baena (denotes server): Carballés Baena is well on top on Court 16, but Choinski shows his mettle to hold to love.
*Zheng 4-6, 1-1 Anisimova (denotes server): Zheng holds to love, producing a chunky ace along the way. She looks laser-focused.
Zheng 4-6, 0-1 Anisimova* (denotes server): Anisimova still looks vulnerable, giving up two points on her way to a hold. Zheng’s big forehands are still troubling her, but she shows enough guile with her shot selection to see out the game.
Updated
Hello! It was a gutsy fightback, but Zheng falls short at the last as Anisimova wrests set point and sends an unstoppable winner flashing down the line. The American takes the first set 6-4, though she certainly took a meandering path to her destination. Can Zheng swing the momentum in her favour in the second set?
Will Magee is here for an hour to take you through the action. I will be back in a bit.
Ben Shelton will be beginning his first round on Arthur Ashe soon. The 13th seed has said that he has not played his best tennis yet this season but he shone in New York last year.
He gets his chat on here on his meteoric ascent as America’s next star, sitting out the Olympics and expectations at Flushing Meadows.
*Zheng 3-5 Anisimova (denotes server): Anisimova looked to be cruising towards this first set but Zheng hits a few powerful forehands that really throw the American off. She also does not move when she thinks the ball is going out and when it inevitably goes in, she has no one but herself to blame. That is now only 2/11 break points won for the American.
Zheng 2-5 Anisimova* (denotes server): She isn’t down and out yet. In a game that only takes a few minutes, the Chinese opts to come a lot closer to the net to hit some forehands and it pays off.
*Zheng 1-5 Anisimova (denotes server): Zheng is not having her best start but she is hoping to turn it around. She hits two aces to make it 40-30 but then Anisimova gets advantage after two back to back nets. So far, every service game Zheng has had she has had to fend off at least one break point. This time it takes only one for her to take the game and she is now serving for the set. She is really playing under no pressure and her return game has been spectacular to watch.
Updated
*Choinski 1-2 Carballés Baena (denotes server): Choinski is such a strong server and because of the hardcourt they are quite speedy as well. It means that Carballés Baena is opting to stay so far back to recieve. He is well outside of the court lines and often times out of the camera frame as well. Choinski gets the advantage but Carballés Baena slowly moves up the court and hits a smashing forehand to make it a second deuce. We go back and forth for a while but it’s at the sixth break point where after a short rally the Brit hits a shot out. That 13-minute felt never ending and had everything: foot faults, a few aces and some slicing shots.
Choinski 1-2 Carballés Baena* (denotes server): On Court 16, Carballés Baena is leading by a game against Choinski. This match has been a lot more free-flowing but the unforced errors for both are mounting up. Think this might be a battle of who can hold their nerve better.
Updated
*Zheng 1-1 Anisimova (denotes server): Anisimova’s backhand is lethal at times but Zheng is serving exactly where the American prefers. She goes 40-0 up after the Chinese nets a shot but then a well-wide forehand makes it 40-15. Zheng saves again and then makes it deuce with a shot that just teeters on the net which throws Anisimova off her game and three break points come and go. Zhengs holds and we’re all tied up. Zheng has to work and make this a forehand crosscourt battle. She feels a bit rushed out there and it is preventing any rallies from happening.
Zheng 0-1 Anisimova* (denotes server): The American takes the first set after some really strong serves. From the first game it is obvious that this will be an interesting matchup with the two players having such differing strengths.
The US Open is underway. We’ll start with two matches; the first on Louis Armstrong as the Olympic gold medal winner Zheng Qinwen takes on Amanda Anisimova, whose best result at a slam was the quarter-finals in Wimbledon in 2022. On Court 16, the German-born Briton Jan Choinski has qualified for the main draw for the first time in his career will face Roberto Carballés Baena.
Jack Draper is on the defensive after receiving backlash due to his controversial point during his fourth-round win against Félix Auger-Aliassime at the Cincinnati Open.
Draper, another Brit hoping to impress, attempted to close out an excellent performance against Auger-Aliassime with a serve and volley but, instead of hitting a forehand half volley, Draper inadvertently hit the ball into the ground, which bounced up and dribbled over the net. The umpire, Greg Allensworth, did not notice the double bounce and a frustrated Auger-Aliassime patiently explained why Draper should have lost the point.
The Briton had offered to replay the point if they could see the video replay but he maintained that he was unsure of what had happened and he was eventually declared the winner.
I’ve always valued myself on being honest and a good person. Forget the tennis – that is one of the most important things to me in my life. So to obviously see that stuff, and see people talking about you for the first time in a negative way – and questioning your integrity and stuff like that – it’s obviously difficult to see.
I don’t blame people for doing that. Obviously, on the slow-mo, when you watch it from the side, it’s very clear it’s an illegal shot. There’s no doubt about that. But when you’re in the moment and you serve out wide and the guy’s hit a 95mph ball at your feet, you just put a racket down and I didn’t know what happened. I looked at the umpire straight away. I think I took a swipe at it, because I thought it was going in the bottom of the net, and then it hit the net and went over. It was just like a split second of madness.
The familiar face of Emma Raducanu is in New York and is “inspired” to be back where she won her first and only slam.
Back in 2021, tennis may have provided arguably Britain’s sporting highlight of the 2020s so far as Raducanu became the first qualifier to win a grand slam with her US Open triumph.
Throughout this summer, the British No 2 has spoken about finding the joy in tennis again, which had been difficult for so long. The results she has compiled over the past four months back up those sentiments. Raducanu has reached the quarter-finals or better at four of her past six tour events, had a run to the fourth round of Wimbledon and a defining role in Great Britain’s win over France on clay in the Billie Jean King Cup.
I feel very proud when I come here. Walking past my photo every day. Walking past my name on the trophy every day. I think that is such an epic achievement and these two weeks, I completed it. I come back with such a different outlook. Just joy and pride and it inspires me to want to do more.
Updated
While Sinner has said he did not receive preferential treatment, many disagree a sentiment that Novak Djokovic can “understand”. The Serbian has called for anti-doping rules to change in light of the recent case against Sinner.
We see a lack of standardised and clear protocols. I can understand the sentiments of a lot of players that are questioning whether they are treated the same. Hopefully the governing bodies of our sport will be able to learn from this case and have a better approach for the future. Collectively there has to be a change, and I think that’s obvious.
Many players – without naming any of them [as] I’m sure you know already who – have had similar or pretty much the same cases, where they haven’t had the same outcome. And now the question is whether it is a case of the funds, whether a player can afford to pay a significant amount of money for a law firm that would then more efficiently represent his or her case. I don’t know. Is that the case or not? That’s something really I feel like we have to collectively investigate more.
Carlos Alcaraz responded with caution when asked about his rival’s positive test:
In the end, they’ve declared him innocent and he’s in the tournament. I think there’s not much more to talk about and at least I don’t have much to say. It’s something that is talked about [in the locker room].
As mentioned, Sinner has been the word on everyone’s lips. The Italian has had an explosive year, winning his first and only slam in Melbourne in January and soaring to world No 1 during the French Open.
The Italian faced the media for the first time since the results came to light last week in New York. While the moderator tried to shut down questions about the topic after only one was asked, Sinner seemed happy to respond at length to all the questions and was fully engaged with his questioners.
I had to play already months with this in my head, but just [reminding] myself that I haven’t done really anything wrong. I always respect these rules, and I always will respect these rules of anti-doping. Just obviously a relief for myself having this result.
Every player who gets tested positive has to go through the same process. There is no shortcut, there is no different treatment, they are all the same process.
Sinner will begin his US Open campaign against the US’s Mackenzie McDonald, who is ranked 119 in the world.
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Preamble
Hello all and welcome to our very first blog of the 2024 US Open.
The build-up to this tournament has largely been dominated by Jannik Sinner. The world No 1 had tested positive twice for trace amounts of the banned substance clostebol from anti-doping test samples taken in March. But an independent tribunal had subsequently determined that Sinner should bear no fault for the failed tests. This news was all kept under wraps until he was cleared, a day after he had won his second Masters 1000 title at the Cincinnati Open.
Turning to today, we have the defending champion Coco Gauff, the Olympic gold medallist Zheng Qinwen and Britain’s Harriet Dart all in action
On the men’s side, the US fan favourite and last year’s semi-finalist Ben Shelton, the 2022 finalist, Casper Ruud, and Alexander Zverev will face their first round matches today.
Join me for all the news and action from Flushing Meadows. If you have any thoughts, concerns, questions, musings, predictions or hopes and dreams you want to share, then drop me a line via email. You can find the information at the top of this blog.
