Sinner received a warm reception, external from the crowd during his first practice session at Flushing Meadows on Thursday.

Speaking for the first time since the news emerged on Monday, Sinner said it was a "relief" the investigation was over.

Asked if he had concerns about his reputation, Sinner said: "For me, I always believe that I kept playing tennis because in my mind I knew that I haven't done anything wrong.

"Whoever knows me very well knows that I haven't done and I would never do something what goes against the rules.

"Here I also know who is my friend and who is not my friend, because my friends, they know that I would never do that.

"About the reputation, we will see moving forward, no? Because this, I can't really control."

He was given an automatic provisional suspension when he tested positive but was able to keep playing after successfully appealing against it.

Sinner went on to win tournaments in Halle and Cincinnati and become world number one for the first time.

"Of course it's not ideal before a Grand Slam but in my mind I know that I haven't done anything wrong," he said.

"I had to play already months with this in my head.

"I'm just happy that it's finally out because it's one kind of relief also for me and my team, which is still here."

Some players have criticised the decision not to ban Sinner when the positive tests occurred.

Sinner said he went through the same process as any other player, adding: "There is no shortcut, no different treatment.

"I know sometimes the frustration of other players obviously. But maybe because they got suspended is they didn't know exactly where it comes from.

"We knew it straightaway, and we were aware of what happened."

Australian Open champion Sinner begins his US Open campaign against American Mackenzie McDonald when the tournament begins on Monday.