Andy Roddick recently likened an aspect of Jannik Sinner’s game to that of the legendary Rafael Nadal. While Roddick acknowledged there are differences in how Sinner plays and how Nadal used to go about his business on the court, he opined that for their opponents, it must feel like there’s a mountain to climb once they find themselves behind against either the Italian or the Spaniard in matches.
Jannik Sinner, the World No. 2 in men’s singles tennis, has a penchant for very rarely letting his lead slip. Sets in which the Italian breaks opponents tend to go his way because of his uncanny ability to consodilate breaks. At the end of the 2025 tennis season, the 24-year-old led the ATP Tour in both service games and return games won. No one else in history can boast this impressive feat.
In light of Jannik Sinner‘s remarkable ability to almost always make advantages count in his favor, Andy Roddick recently likened it to a similar trait of the now-retired Rafael Nadal. Speaking on his Served podcast, the American former World No. 1 and 2003 US Open champion said:
“(Sinner is) kind of similar to Rafa. Once Rafa got you wounded, it was so hard to get out of that power and spin and break it. They go about it different ways. Obviously Sinner hits it more through the court and eats up the middle of the court.”
The 43-year-old who himself retired back in 2012 went on to hail the ability as a “generational” one, adding:
“They do it in different ways but I’d imagine it has to be a similar feeling where once you know you’re behind, you go, oh s**t, and you’re just clawing to try to like land the plane, right? You’re just trying to hang on and it’s generational.”
“Rafael Nadal gave us so many things” – Jannik Sinner after moving tribute to 22-time Major champion at French Open 2025
Rafael Nadal’s final competitive outing came for Spain at the 2024 Davis Cup Finals. While the tournament did organize a farewell for him, it was widely regarded as an underwhelming one for someone of the Spaniard’s stature. Later, at this year’s French Open, the former No. 1 was given a memorable tribute in honor of his contributions to tennis over the course of his almost 23-year-long career.
In the aftermath of the tribute, Jannik Sinner spoke glowingly about the Spaniard’s significance for his generation of tennis players, telling reporters at a press conference:
“He gave us so many things.. Especially for our generation and even younger that we looked up to. Being humble and being a successful tennis player, he showed that this is possible. I was lucky to know him a bit better. I had a lot of practice sessions with him. He is exactly how you guys see him. He’s not faking anything. He is amazing. A role model for all of us.”
Meanwhile, Jannik Sinner himself finished the 2025 tennis season on a high with a successful defense of his ATP Finals title. Next year’s Australian Open is set to mark the Italian’s first competitive campaign in the new season, with the World No. 2 being the two-time reigning champion in Melbourne.
Edited by Sudipto Pati
