No. 1 Jannik Sinner began his US open title defense by giving up four games in a 6-1, 6-1, 6-2 victory at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Tuesday.
The sinner appeared to be suffering from blisters that were plagued by tape on his right ring finger, but the injury did not seem to affect his play.
Since its launch in 2024, Thinner has compiled a 66-4 record on hard coats. This was the most winning player on the men’s tour in that range. Three of these losses are against the second Carlos Alcaraz (2024 Indian Wells, 2024 Beijing and last week’s Cincinnati Open Finals.
The Sinner and Alkaraz, who were combined to win the past seven men’s major championships, were on the other side of the draw and were able to meet in the final of their third straight grand slam.
Thinner extended his victory at the Hard Court Slam to 22 matches. The 1978 US Open marked its first hard court major.
It was Italian compatriot Lorenzo Musetti who joined the sinners to move forward on the second round of Tuesday. No. 10 seeds needed four sets, but eventually passed through French Giovan Nim Petosiparis Seeds 6-7 (3), 6-3, 6-4, 6-4.
No. 27 Denis Shapovalov beat Marton Fucsovics in a straight set, but No. 19 Francisco Cerundolo had to rally from two sets of deficits before winning Matteo Arnaldi 3-6, 2-6, 7-5, 6-4, 6-3.
ESPN research contributed to this report.
