Jannik Sinner’s ‘absurd’ dominance compared to ‘prime Rafael Nadal on clay’ by former No 1
Andy Roddick has compared the dominance of Jannik Sinner’s performances at the end of his Miami Open title run to that of a prime Rafael Nadal on clay courts.
The former world No 1 likened Sinner’s run to Nadal’s surge to win the 2010 Monte Carlo Masters, where he destroyed compatriots David Ferrer and Fernando Verdasco in the semi-finals and final.
Sinner dropped just one set in the six matches he played during an imperious charge to the title in Miami as he claimed his third tournament victory of a superb 2024 season to date.
The Italian was particularly devastating in his final two matches as he dismantled Daniil Medvedev 6-1, 6-2 in the semi-finals and Grigor Dimitrov 6-3, 6-1 in the final.
The 22-year-old, who climbed to a career-high ranking of world No 2 this week, holds a 22-1 record this year and has lost only three matches since the 2023 US Open in September.
Speaking on his Served with Andy Roddick podcast, Roddick lauded Sinner’s displays by drawing comparison with the ‘King of Clay’ at his peak.
“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 2003 US Open champion.
“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.”
READ MORE: Novak Djokovic v Jannik Sinner v Carlos Alcaraz v Daniil Medvedev: 2024 clay-court points to defend
