Andy Roddick praises ‘tactically sound’ Jannik Sinner for proving him ‘wrong’ in Wimbledon final
Andy Roddick praised Jannik Sinner’s “tactically sound” performance in Sunday’s Wimbledon final as he admitted he was wrong to underestimate the Italian’s chances.
The world No 1 rallied from a set down to beat two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 in Sunday’s championship match, sealing his fourth Grand Slam title.
Before the final, Sinner had lost his last five matches against the Spaniard, who had won 20 straight matches at Wimbledon, and 24 in a row this season.
However, the Italian largely outplayed his leading rival on Centre Court, denying Alcaraz the chance to win his third straight title at the All England Club.
Sinner’s performance has been widely praised and, on his Served podcast, former world No 1 Roddick was among those to congratulate the new champion on his performance.
“I will tell you when I think I am right. I will tell you when I am wrong. I did not see it going that clearly in Sinner’s direction on this surface. I just really didn’t,” said the American
“He played such a tactically sound match. Pulled the trigger at the right time up the line, but dominated the middle of the court.
“What he can do is consistently create pace and speed through the court without needing the variety and spins that Carlos Alcaraz has mastered.
“If he extends the court sideline to sideline, that also allows Carlos to mix it up a little bit – but he did an amazing job of hitting behind Carlos Alcaraz when the backhand line was available.”
Victory for Sinner came just 35 days after his stunning defeat to Alcaraz in the Roland Garros final.
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The Italian had led by two sets to love inside Court Philippe Chatrier and, after holding three championship points on his rival’s serve, failed to serve out the match in the fourth set.
Alcaraz would ultimately complete an astonishing comeback, prevailing in a fifth-set tiebreak, and many wondered how Sinner would respond.
However, in the Wimbledon final, the 23-year-old held from 15-40 down to move 5-3 ahead in the fourth set, and comfortably closed out the match in his next service game.
Reflecting on Sinner’s turnaround, three-time Wimbledon runner-up Roddick believed that this was the perfect way for the Italian to overcome lingering “scar tissue” from Roland Garros.
Roddick added: “After what happened at Roland Garros, and then to have Carlos 15-40 on his serve when he is two holds away from the Wimbledon title.
“Hitting two massive serves that catch the back fifth of the box to the forehand side up the radar gun to 110mph plus. Just clutch as clutch could be.
“You could see [Sinner’s coach] Darren Cahill standing up and down. Everyone knew it. They have not faded away from the fact of what happened at Roland Garros and they are just like we are going to go on with it.
“I am a huge fan of both of these guys. I am happy for all their successes. I could not have been more impressed with Jannik Sinner.
“He is carrying the physical load of trying to beat Alcaraz on this surface, his third final in three years and winning two of them.
“Then you can talk about how you have moved on from Roland Garros, that scar tissue does not go away just because you want it to.
“Overcoming that scar tissue, especially in that fourth set, was just an amazing, amazing display of grit and belief and will ultimately be the redemption story.”
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