Andy Roddick assesses Carlos Alcaraz & Jannik Sinner’s best surfaces and gives ‘machine’ verdict

Ewan West 03 Jan 2025 7:20 PM

Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz

Former world No 1 Andy Roddick has analysed Carlos Alcaraz’s development and proclaimed that he does not think the Spanish star is a “machine” like Jannik Sinner.

The 2003 US Open champion also explained why he believes the “battle lines” in the Alcaraz-Sinner rivalry are “pretty clear cut.”

Alcaraz ended the 2024 season as the world No 3 after winning his maiden French Open title and his second successive Wimbledon crown to take his Grand Slam tally to four.

The 21-year-old, who also secured titles at the Indian Wells Masters and the China Open, compiled a 54-13 (80.6%) record.

Sinner, meanwhile, achieved his maiden ATP year-end No 1 finish in 2024 having ended the campaign with a remarkable 73-6 (92.4%) record.

The Italian claimed eight titles last year, including his maiden major at the Australian Open and his second at the US Open.

The 23-year-old also won the ATP Finals and three Masters 1000 tournaments, while he ended the season by leading Italy to a second consecutive Davis Cup triumph.

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Speaking on the Served with Andy Roddick podcast, Roddick highlighted the ways Alcaraz has improved his game and addressed the current gap between the Spaniard and Sinner.

“It’s become pretty clear cut, the battle lines, where Sinner is on hard, and anything that is not hard is kind of Alcaraz territory right now, and they are the best in their given spaces,” said the American.

“He (Alcaraz) is a joy to watch. Expectations couldn’t be more outsized. He is one of the biggest global superstars, not just in tennis, but in anything. Everyone wants to be around him.

“Three in the world. I don’t know. Just be on court more often. Is that it?

“He improved his serve. He adjusted his motion a little bit. He kind of went up and down in a V, now it’s rounded at the bottom a bit more.

“The backhand got better. He’s using the slice more often. It’s just that he needs the time and the space, it seems, mentally. I don’t think he’s a machine like Sinner.”

Alcaraz has won eight of his 16 ATP titles to date on clay, five on hard-court and three on grass.

Sinner has collected 16 of his 18 titles on hard-court, while he has won a single title on both clay and grass.

Alcaraz and Sinner will both start their 2025 seasons at the Australian Open, which will begin on January 12.