American former World No. 1, Andy Roddick has likened the of Jannik Sinner’s recent success after the conclusion of his Miami Open title run to that of a prime Rafael Nadal on clay courts.
The 2003 US Open Champion compared Sinner’s run to Nadal’s clay court mastery that earned him 2010 Monte Carlo Masters title in 2010 during which he dismantled compatriots Fernando Verdasco and David Ferrer in the final and semifinal respectively.
The World No. 2 dropped just one set in six matches as he registered his dominant run to seal the title in Miami. This was his third title of the 2024 season. The Italian became particularly ruthless in the semifinal and final where he drubbed Daniil Medvedev (6-1, 6-2) and Grigor Dimitrov (6-3, 6-1).
The 2024 Australian Open champion took over rival Carlos Alcaraz to reach the career high rank of ATP #2 and maintains a 22-1 record this year as he has lost only three matches since the 2023 US Open in September.
Appearing on his Served with Andy Roddick podcast, Roddick praised Sinner’s displays by drawing comparison with the 22-time Grand Slam Champion aka ‘King of Clay’ during the peak days of his career.
“I’m going to make a point for you about how dominant this performance was by Jannik Sinner. So, as we all know, yes, Novak [Djokovic] is the best of all time. Numbers don’t lie,” said the big serving American.
“But the most dominant person when you get on a specific surface at a specific time is Rafa on clay. Right, that’s as indisputable as the GOAT conversation is. I would say that the Rafa conversation on clay maybe even more. It is more so.
“So what are the statistical comps of Jannik Sinner winning one and two in the semis of a 1000 and then three and one in the finals of a 1000?
“2010 Monte Carlo: Rafa Nadal beats [David] Ferrer in the semis; I think it’s like one and two or one and three (6-2, 6-3), and then beats [Fernando] Verdasco in the final zero and one (6-0, 6-1). So to draw a comp to what Sinner just did in Miami, you have to go to prime Nadal on clay and in a Masters 1000.
“That’s what you’re comparing this dominance to. Sinner this weekend in Miami to Rafa’s best ever finish as far as games lost in a Master’s 1000. Sinner in Miami, Rafa prime on clay—that’s the comp for what he just did.
“I think most of us were saying on the way in that he’s been the best player in the world. I’ve been on record for saying the last five or six months, and he’s beaten all the players; he’s beaten Novak three times; he lost his first six in his career against [Daniil] Medvedev and has won the last five.
“He has won the Masters 1000, has won Davis Cup, has won a Grand Slam, lost to [Carlos] Alcaraz in the semis, won Rotterdam, and won Miami.
“The statistical comp for what he did last weekend is Rafa in 2010 in Monte Carlo, a tournament that Rafa has won, you know, tens of times, which is also absurd.”