Jannik Sinner drops just 4 games in first-round US Open win - ESPN

NEW YORK — Jannik Sinner looked fully recovered from a recent illness as he started his US Open title defense Tuesday with a 6-1, 6-1, 6-2 victory over Vit Kopriva.

The top-ranked Sinner had to stop playing in the Cincinnati final against Carlos Alcaraz on Aug. 18 because he was sick, pulled out of the US Open mixed doubles tournament that began the next day and said he still wasn't quite feeling 100 percent late last week.

But he had extra time to recover with first-round matches now spread over three days with the tournament's new Sunday start. He certainly showed no signs of the virus when he rolled through his 28-year-old Czech opponent, who was making his US Open main draw debut, in 1 hour, 39 minutes.

«Obviously very happy that I'm healthy again, that we did our best to be in the best possible shape here,» Sinner said.

Sinner did appear at times to be bothered by a taped blister on his right ring finger, but the injury did not affect his play, as his four dropped games tied his second fewest in a major match. (He conceded only three games in his third-round match against Jiri Lehecka at the French Open.)

Sinner didn't lose any of his 11 service games and won 83% of his first-serve points, saving two break points.

The 24-year-old Italian earned his second Grand Slam title when he beat Taylor Fritz last year in Flushing Meadows, then went on to add two more this year at the Australian Open and Wimbledon. He is trying to join Rod Laver, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic as the only men to reach the final of all four Grand Slams in the same year in the Open era, which began in 1968.

«Obviously, every year is different,» said Sinner, sporting the white arm sleeve he began wearing after hurting his elbow in a fall during