Jannik Sinner’s commanding victory over Alexander Zverev in the Australian Open final has ignited a fierce discussion about the Italian’s potential to redefine the men’s tennis landscape. The 6-3, 7-6(4), 6-3 triumph, which saw Sinner successfully defend his title in Melbourne, left no doubts about his dominance on hard courts. The way he dispatched Zverev so decisively further solidified his place at the top, suggesting that he may be carving out his own niche in the game, one that could set him apart from the rest.
Such a performance has prompted former world No 1 Andy Roddick to make a bold statement, suggesting that Sinner’s game is practically flawless. Roddick went as far as to draw comparisons between the 22-year-old Italian and the sport’s all-time greats—Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic. These three titans have collectively claimed 66 Grand Slam titles and are widely regarded as the greatest male players in tennis history. Yet, Roddick believes Sinner could be on the verge of reaching their level.
In a recent episode of his Served podcast, Roddick elaborated on this point: “Similar to the problems that Novak in his prime presented, Roger in his prime presented, Rafa on clay—which was the toughest match-up in the history of sports—trying to beat him on clay… You can’t really go through Sinner right now. He doesn’t give an inch. He can hit winners off both sides and he does what you do, but like, better.”
Roddick highlighted Sinner’s rise in serving consistency, noting, “He didn’t always serve great, but now he is so consistent. He creates way more spin wide now.” In fact, Roddick likened Sinner’s game to a finely-tuned algorithm, saying, “With Sinner, it’s like plugging something into an algorithm and everything comes out complete… and he’s adding more to his game.” His defensive and offensive capabilities, according to Roddick, make him a unique challenge for any opponent. “You can’t go through him, you can’t go around him,” Roddick continued. “You have to account for someone being the best defensive world on a given day and the best offensive world on another.” His analogy to the game of Pong further emphasized Sinner’s ability to control the court from side to side, leaving opponents perplexed and scrambling.
However, Sinner’s future may not be entirely certain, as off-court matters loom over his career. The 22-year-old is facing a potentially lengthy suspension after failing two doping tests last year. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) is appealing a decision that would allow Sinner to avoid a ban, following a positive test for an anabolic steroid in March. A hearing is scheduled for mid-April, and Roddick added, “Right now, Sinner’s biggest opponent is WADA.”
On a brighter note, former Wimbledon champion Pat Cash also weighed in on Sinner’s exceptional prowess on hard courts during an interview with the BBC in Melbourne. “Jannik Sinner is almost unbeatable on hard court,” Cash remarked. “Didn’t he lose just one match last year on hard court or something like that? His record is ridiculous.” Cash was particularly impressed by Sinner’s speed and agility, praising his ability to cover the court effortlessly while hitting powerful, precise shots.
Despite Sinner’s clinical display in the final, Cash pointed out that the match may not have been as thrilling for spectators due to Zverev’s lackluster performance. “I think Sinner’s level was pulled down by Zverev’s performance,” Cash suggested, while acknowledging Zverev’s impressive recovery from a severe ankle injury. “It’s a remarkable effort considering he’s come back from such a serious injury and managed to get himself up to speed, making two Grand Slam finals.” Cash went on to outline potential areas for improvement in Zverev’s game, notably his inability to finish points effectively, his volleying skills, and the recurring breakdown of his forehand, which proved costly in this match.
In the end, while Sinner’s ascent seems unstoppable, the next few months will be crucial—not only in terms of his form on the court but also regarding the looming legal battle surrounding his doping case. Whether he can continue his meteoric rise or face setbacks remains to be seen. Regardless, his performance in Melbourne has firmly positioned him as a player to watch in the years to come.