Andy Roddick Draws Comparisons of Carlos Alcaraz’s Dropshot and Stephen Curry’s Three-Point Shot
Carlos Alcaraz is now holding three of the four Grand Slam titles.
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Andy Roddick (inset), Carlos Alcaraz and Stephen Curry (via Sportskeeda)
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Sports debates are the lifeblood of fandom. The fans love comparing eras, styles, and athletes across entirely different sports. The latest firestorm to hit the timeline comes courtesy of former US Open champion Andy Roddick.
On a recent episode of his podcast, the big-serving American waded into a fascinating debate: Is Carlos Alcaraz’s signature drop shot doing to tennis what Stephen Curry’s three-pointer did to basketball?
It’s a tantalizing question. On one side, there is Alcaraz, a 22-year-old prodigy with seven Grand Slam titles who has completely disrupted the rhythm of the modern baseline game. On the other hand, there is Curry, the man who effectively broke the geometry of the NBA. According to Roddick, while the comparison is flattering, there is still a massive gap between the two in terms of sheer cultural impact. He said on Served Podcast:
Yeah, I don’t know that it surpassed Steph’s threepoint shot just because like what do you see? A drop shot once every three or four games whereas like Steph, it’s like every there’s a threat of it every possession. And that’s the thing that’s changed, like the threat of Carlos’s drop shot screws you for when he has to open up the shoulders. Like they work in lock step. Even when he’s not using it, you still have to account for it. So it’s completely changed it. Like you have Sinner going (for it), Sinner’s like I’m working on my drop shot because of Alcaraz.
When Roddick speaks, people tend to listen. His take wasn’t meant to diminish Alcaraz. In fact, the 20023 US Open champion spent plenty of time praising the Spaniard’s fearless creativity. However, Roddick made a crucial distinction between “innovation” and “revolution.” He argued that while Alcaraz has introduced a shot that opponents terrify over, Curry’s influence has “altered the DNA of basketball.”
Roddick points out that Curry didn’t just change how the Golden State Warriors played; he changed how everyone played. From the NBA finals down to middle school pickup games, the three-pointer became the focal point of the sport.
Carlos Alcaraz and the art of disruption
That said, giving Carlos Alcaraz his flowers is essential. At just 22, having already secured a Career Grand Slam, he is undeniably a generational talent. His drop shot is famously disguised. He winds up for a massive forehand, sending defenders scrambling to the back fence, only to feather the ball just over the net.
Roddick acknowledged this brilliance. He noted that Alcaraz forces players to feel uncomfortable. In an era dominated by power baseliners who want to hit the fuzz off the ball, Alcaraz introduces chaos. He disrupts the rhythm.
But is it a revolution? Roddick seems to think it’s more of a personal superpower than a systemic shift. Unless the fans start seeing 6-foot-6 servers suddenly developing delicate touch to compete, Alcaraz remains an outlier rather than the new standard.
What this means for the future of Tennis
The debate Andy Roddick sparked is actually healthy for the sport. It forces the viewers to analyze how games evolve.
If Carlos Alcaraz continues to dominate for another decade using this mix of power and finesse, Roddick might have to revisit his take. The fans are already seeing younger players trying to emulate Alcaraz’s all-court coverage. Just as Roger Federer brought elegance and Rafael Nadal brought unparalleled topspin, Alcaraz is bringing creativity back to the forefront.
At the age of 22, he has collected the most Grand Slam titles in history at that age. Considering his ancestors needed longer to reach that number, it only makes everyone feel that his Grand Slam tally will be higher by the time his career ends.
For now, though, the consensus aligns with Roddick. Steph Curry changed the math of his sport. Carlos Alcaraz is simply mastering his. But give it a few years—if the next generation of tennis stars starts dropping shots from the baseline as their primary weapon, fans will know exactly who to thank.
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