Former World No. 1 and 2003 US Open champion, American Andy Roddick, offered his insights into why Serbian legend Novak Djokovic has been struggling so significantly against rising Italian star Jannik Sinner in their recent encounters.
The Forgotten Context of Sinner`s Rise
Roddick began by emphasizing the importance of remembering Sinner’s journey, noting that success often makes people forget previous vulnerabilities.
“We forget important details too quickly,” Roddick stated. “Remember the match Sinner had at a major recently, where he was on the brink of being eliminated by Grigor Dimitrov? Assuming Novak is completely healthy, Dimitrov would have highly likely won that match had he not suffered a chest muscle tear. Without Sinner, that entire tournament would have unfolded differently.”
Facing an Upgraded Model
The core difficulty for Djokovic, according to Roddick, lies in the tactical similarities Sinner shares with the 24-time Grand Slam champion, coupled with the Italian’s youthful aggression.
“The match-up with Sinner is extremely difficult for Djokovic because he is essentially facing an improved version of himself,” Roddick explained. “The Italian is actively seizing the initiative. The question is, can Novak still effectively defend against such powerful, proactive play?”
The Speed Factor
Roddick concluded by respectfully pointing out the inevitable factor of age, which marginally affects Djokovic’s defensive capabilities, making the challenge posed by Sinner even heavier.
“[Djokovic] is no longer as fast as he was a couple of years ago… This is not a critique—I say this with enormous respect—but facing that kind of opponent is genuinely very tough right now,” Roddick observed.
