Jannik Sinner Survives Tough Test Against Nicolas Jarry at Australian Open

Jannik Sinner launched his Australian Open title bid with a 7-6(2), 7-6(5), 6-1 win over Nicolas Jarry, despite the Italian's ongoing doping controversy.

Jannik Sinner, the world number one and reigning US Open champion, began his Australian Open campaign with a hard-fought 7-6(2), 7-6(5), 6-1 victory over Nicolas Jarry on Monday. The match, played on a sun-drenched Rod Laver Arena, drew attention to the players' contrasting doping cases. Sinner, who avoided suspension after failing two drug tests last March, faced Jarry, who was banned for 11 months in 2020 for doping.

In the lead-up to the match, Jarry expressed his feelings about the differing treatment he received compared to Sinner. Jarry told Chilean newspaper La Tercera that he wished he had "the same support" as Sinner from tennis authorities following his own failed tests. Sinner remains under a doping cloud, with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) seeking a ban of up to two years at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). A hearing has been set for April.

Despite the ongoing doping saga, Sinner's tennis has shown little signs of being affected. His defeat of world number 36 Jarry marked the Italian's 16th consecutive win and 15th at the hardcourt Grand Slams. After the match, Sinner expressed his gratitude to the crowd, saying, “First of all, I'm very, very happy to be back here, so thank you very much for coming.” He praised Jarry's abilities, stating, “The atmosphere has been amazing. He's an incredible player, huge potential.” Sinner also reflected on his own performance, saying, “I'm happy how I handled a very tough situation in the first couple of sets, happy to be in the next round.”

Nicolas Jarry proved to be a formidable opponent, holding serve through the first two sets before ultimately succumbing to Jannik Sinner in the tiebreaks. Sinner sealed the first tiebreak with an ace, having brought up four set points with impressive work at the net. In the second tiebreak, Jarry saved two set points but was unable to recover from a wild backhand error into the tramlines, allowing Sinner to take the set.

Sinner took control of the match in the final set, breaking Jarry's serve in the second game and then serving out the match to love. As he met Jarry at the net for a handshake, Sinner was warmly cheered by the crowd. He will face local wildcard Tristan Schoolkate in the next round, bidding to continue his winning streak.

The match between Sinner and Jarry drew attention to their respective doping cases. Sinner was cleared of wrongdoing last year by a doping tribunal, which accepted his explanation that the anabolic agent clostebol had entered his system through massages from his former physio. Although his results, prize money, and ranking points from the ATP Masters 1000 event at Indian Wells were cancelled, Sinner was allowed to continue playing after his team filed urgent appeals. The case was not made public until August.

In contrast, Jarry was banned by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) in 2020 after testing positive for two anabolic agents. However, the ITF accepted Jarry's explanation that he had unwittingly taken multi-vitamins containing the prohibited substances on the recommendation of his doctor. Jarry's provisional suspension was disclosed by the ITF four months before the sanction was imposed.