Andy Roddick suggests Iga Swiatek should seek advice from Jannik Sinner about handling ongoing media pressure
Andy Roddick urged Iga Swiatek to seek advice from Jannik Sinner on how to handle media criticism following her doping case.
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Iga Swiatek and Jannik Sinner, (in circle) Andy Roddick (via Imago/Tennis Gazette)
Iga Swiatek has faced unprecedented criticism since the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) announced that she failed a drug test. Amid the fallout from the doping case, tennis legend Andy Roddick has urged the former World No. 1 to seek advice from Jannik Sinner on how to handle the pressure.
Swiatek tested positive for a banned substance (trimetazidine) before the Cincinnati Open in August. The ITIA revealed that the Polish star had no significant fault on her part after they accepted her defense that her melatonin medication had accidentally been contaminated by trimetazidine.
The 23-year-old was provisionally suspended for three weeks before being handed an official one-month suspension in November. However, Swiatek is not the first big player to fail a doping test this season. ATP World No. 1 Sinner failed a drug test in March, though he was not officially suspended.
Swiatek has faced harsh criticism from legends and the media in recent weeks. This led Roddick to suggest that the five-time Grand Slam champion take advice from Sinner, who handled the media criticism and pressure excellently.
If I were Iga, I would probably call him and say: ‘Are there any hacks that have helped you deal with it the way you have? You have almost got better in the post-mortem of the announcement. There will certainly be things to deal with, she is going to get asked about it every time. It will be as if whoever has asked the question hasn’t been able to read her responses before, they are going to make her say it again and again.
Andy Roddick said (via Christian’s Court)
Sinner handled the media pressure by focusing on the court. After the doping case, the Italian won three tour-level titles, including the US Open, and ended the year by helping Italy retain the Davis Cup.
Alex Michelsen shares one of the best career advice he received from Jannik Sinner
In the 2024 season, Alex Michelsen reached new heights in his game and performance. The American star who featured majorly in the ATP Challenger last year, enjoyed his first full season on the ATP Tour.
In a recent interview, he revealed how Jannik Sinner taught him the most valuable lesson of his career. The World No. 41 faced the Italian in the opening rounds of the Cincinnati Open.
During the match, Michelsen kept saying sorry to Sinner as he tried his best to defeat the World No. 1. Though Sinner beat the youngster in straight sets, he had to tell him to stop saying sorry when the match was over.
I have played Sinner twice now. I went close to him in Cincy, and at the US Open, he absolutely waxed me. But I remember we talked a lot in Cincinnati, because obviously he won that tournament. He actually told me I was saying sorry too much, because I tried to keg him. He knew I was going after him. And he’s like, ‘It’s a good play, don’t say sorry’.
Alex Michelsen said (via ATP)
Michelsen ended the 2024 season at a career-high ranking of World No. 41, having started the year as World No. 97. The 20-year-old has even secured his place for this year’s Next-Gen ATP Finals, which begins on December 18.
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Victor Okechukwu
(719 Articles Published)