Scope to talk dope!

World No 1 Jannik Sinner insists that fans have been ldquopositiverdquo in their response to his doping test controversy but he will tackle his locker room critics facetoface rather than engage in a public slanging matchSinner marked his return to the courts for the first time since it was revealed he had failed two drugs tests coming back from a set and break down to defeat Mackenzie McDonald at the US OpenItalian Sinner battled to a 26 62 61 62 win over his 140thranked opponent on Arthur Ashe Stadium racing away with 18 of the last 22 games The 23yearold was returning to action just a week after news broke he had failed two dope tests in March However he escaped a lengthy ban from the sport when officials decided he wasnrsquot at fault for the presence of banned anabolic agent clostebol Sinner argued that the drug entered his system when his physiotherapist used a spray containing it to treat a cut then provided massage and sports therapy to the playerPositive response from fansAustralian Open champion Sinner has since fired physio Giacomo Naldi and trainer Umberto Ferraramdashwho supplied Naldi with the spraymdashciting a loss of confidence in them ldquoThe response from fans I feel it has been great also throughout when the news came out in the practice sessions there was a lot of supportrdquo said Sinner ldquoItrsquos still a little bit not easy You have to go through day by dayrdquoHowever some players have aired their unease at the decision by the International Tennis Integrity Agency to clear Sinner of wrongdoing Australiarsquos Nick Kyrgios said in a post on X that the lack of a suspension was ldquoridiculousrdquoShapovalov lashes outCanadian player Denis Shapovalov said the decision proved that there are ldquodifferent rules for different playersrdquo suggesting that Sinner was saved by his ranking and status as a Grand Slam winner ldquoI cannot really control what they think and what they talk I cannot control the playersrsquo reactionrdquo said Sinner ldquoBut if I have something to say to someone I go there privately because Irsquom this kind of personrdquo Victory on Tuesday was a first win for Sinner on the showpiece Arthur AsheStadiumAlcaraz enters Rd 2Carlos Alcaraz roared home for a 62 46 63 61 victory over 186thranked Australian Li Tu on Tuesday to launch his bid to add the US Open to the Roland Garros and Wimbledon titles he claimed this year The 21yearold Spaniard pushed his Grand Slam winning streak to 15 matches ldquoIrsquom really happy to get through and get a chance to be better the next roundrdquo Alcaraz saidThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever