NEW YORK — Jannik Sinner showcased a remarkable resurgence from his recent illness, kicking off his U.S. Open title defense on Tuesday with an impressive 6-1, 6-1, 6-2 triumph over Vit Kopriva.
The top-seeded Sinner had to withdraw from the Cincinnati final against Carlos Alcaraz on August 18 due to health concerns and pulled out of the U.S. Open mixed doubles event set to begin the following day. Just late last week, he still felt he wasn’t back to full strength.
However, the extended recovery time benefitted him, with first-round matches now stretched over three days due to the tournament’s new Sunday start, and he showed no signs of lingering issues as he dispatched his Czech opponent in just 1 hour and 39 minutes.
“I’m obviously thrilled to be healthy again and grateful for the efforts made to prepare me for this tournament,” Sinner expressed.
The Italian clinched his second Grand Slam title last year at Flushing Meadows, defeating Taylor Fritz. This year, he added two more titles at the Australian Open and Wimbledon, aiming to join the elite ranks of Rod Laver, Roger Federer, and Novak Djokovic as the only men to reach the finals of all four Grand Slams in a single year during the Open era, which began in 1968.
“Returning to New York brings back amazing memories,” Sinner reflected. “Each year presents a unique challenge. I came here hoping to start strong in this tournament, and I believe I did just that.”
Prior to the Cincinnati final, he had enjoyed a remarkable streak of 26 consecutive victories on hard courts.
