Andy Roddick Highlights ‘Absurd’ Thing Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner are Doing that Even Pete Sampras Could Not: “It’s Just a Joke”

Jannik Sinner registered his seventh victory over Carlos Alcaraz in their 17th head-to-head meeting.

Andy Roddick Highlights ‘Absurd’ Thing Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner are Doing that Even Pete Sampras Could Not: “It’s Just a Joke”

Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner (background), Andy Roddick (circle, left), Pete Sampras (circle, right) (Image via X/4K JANNIK SINNER, ATP Tour, Lob and Smash)

In Short
  • Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have established a dominant rivalry in tennis, often winning titles when both are in the draw.
  • Andy Roddick praised their consistency, noting they achieve feats that even Pete Sampras struggled with during his career.
  • Alcaraz withdrew from the Barcelona Open due to a wrist injury, impacting his chance to reclaim the No. 1 ranking from Sinner.

The 2024 season marked the start of the now-famous Carlos Alcaraz–Jannik Sinner duopoly. Forget about the Grand Slam events; whenever the two are in the draw, most of the time, whenever they are in the draw, either of them ends up winning the title.

This year was no different. Alcaraz lifted the Australian Open and the Qatar Open by beating Novak Djokovic and Arthur Fils, respectively. Sinner lost to Djokovic in Melbourne and to Jakub Mensik in Doha.

Then, in the two Sunshine Double events, eventual runner-up Daniil Medvedev defeated Alcaraz in the Indian Wells semifinals, while Sebastian Korda beat him in the third round of the Miami Open. But Sinner became the eighth man to complete the Sunshine Double by defeating Medvedev and Jiri Lehecka in the two events.

Then the Monte-Carlo Masters saw the first Alcaraz-Sinner final of the season. Although Alcaraz entered the match as the favorite to win, Sinner, with his straight-set win, showed the tennis world why he should not be taken lightly even on his least favorite surface.

Andy Roddick was greatly impressed by the two youngsters. During his Served podcast, the 2003 US Open champion explained what Sinner and Alcaraz have been doing that even someone like Pete Sampras struggled to do.

Sinner shows up and wins again, beats Alcaraz. These two are just elevating. We have been saying it for a long time, but then they just prove it harder. It’s just a joke. Let’s think about a couple of things that we would have said about Sinner not even five years ago, two years ago. He is going to win a bunch of majors. Can he play on clay? Grass is not his favorite surface. Can he sustain it all the time? Yes, yes, yes.

Alcaraz was chasing a three-peat of Wimbledon last year, but Sinner dashed his hopes in the final, also taking his revenge after his French Open final heartbreak.

Pete [Sampras] was dominant, and Pete was amazing. He won 14 Slams. He is six time year end number one. But Pete would lose in the Roland Garros third round sometimes. He would take weird losses. Sinner lost one match in the Middle East, and we were like what is going on? But that’s an expectation created by your own shadow. It’s just absurd.

Andy Roddick added

In this year’s Roland Garros, Sinner’s goal will be to complete the Career Grand Slam. Alcaraz will be chasing his third consecutive title.

Carlos Alcaraz withdraws from the Barcelona Open

Carlos Alcaraz experienced wrist discomfort during the Barcelona Open. And without stepping onto the court for his match against Tomas Machac in the round of 16, he deemed it best to withdraw from the tournament, where last year he lost to Holger Rune in the final.

Carlos Alcaraz
Carlos Alcaraz (Image via X/CARLOS ALCARAZ NEWS)

But today’s tests showed it’s a slightly more serious injury than any of us expected, and the truth is, as I’ve said, I have to listen to my body, listen to what’s best for me to avoid future repercussions, and that’s why I have to withdraw from this tournament.

Carlos Alcaraz told reporters

Alcaraz had the chance to reclaim his No.1 ranking from Jannik Sinner. Had he won the ATP 500 home event, he would have started the next week as the No.1 player. The four-time Grand Slam champion dethroned him from the top spot after his Monte Carlo win.

Next is the Madrid Open. Sinner, because he has been playing continuously, has hinted at skipping the tournament. And now Alcaraz will be wishing for a quick recovery before the fourth Masters 1000 of the season.

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