Cheers greet Sinner after world No 1's avoidance of doping ban

All eyes were on Jannik Sinner at the US Open yesterday as he made his first appearance on the practice courts in New York since the announcement that he had avoided a doping ban after successfully arguing two positive anti-doping tests had been the result of contamination.

- Tumaini Carayol

On Tuesday, Sinner and the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) revealed that the player had twice tested positive for trace amounts of the banned substance clostebol from antidoping test samples taken in March and an independent tribunal had subsequently determined that Sinner should bear no fault and not be deemed negligent for the failed tests.

The announcements came a day after Sinner had won his second Masters 1000 title at the Cincinnati Open, defeating Frances Tiafoe in straight sets. After flying to New York and not appearing at the Billie Jean King Tennis Centre on Tuesday or Wednesday, Sinner trained with Grigor Dimitrov yesterday in a midday practice session.

Sinner, who followed his fellow world No 1, Iga Swiatek, on practice court 1, emerged to strong cheers from fans in stands that were completely full and the 23-year-old was also greeted warmly by Dimitrov.

Sinner was flanked by his coaches Simone Vagnozzi, who oversaw the session, and Darren Cahill, who frequently offered his charge advice.