By Richard Pagliaro | @TennisNow | Friday, January 10, 2025
Picture credit score: Kelly Defina/Getty
The season’s first Slam could be Jannik Sinner’s final match for six months, says former world No. 1 Andy Roddick.
Corridor of Famer Roddick backs Sinner to efficiently defend his Australian Open title this month with a possible doping suspension hanging over his head.
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Final March, Sinner twice examined optimistic for the banned steroid clostebol in “low ranges” the Worldwide Tennis Integrity Company introduced in August days earlier than the beginning of the US Open. Sinner was not suspended and permitted to play as a result of an unbiased tribunal dominated he was at “no fault” for the steroid contamination in his system. Sinner went on to win the 2024 US Open.
WADA is interesting Sinner’s steroid case to the Court docket of Arbitration for Sport—and in search of a ban of 1 to 2 years for the US Open champion.
Writing in his AO Preview column for Betway, Roddick stated he envisions Sinner profitable his third Grand Slam within the final yr earlier than being hit with a possible six month or one yr suspension by the CAS.
The highest-seeded Sinner opens his title protection vs. big-serving Chilean Nicolas Jarry. Sinner heads the highest half of the draw, whereas rival Carlos Alcaraz and 10-time AO champion Novak Djokovic reside in the identical third quarter on the underside half of the draw.
“Jannik Sinner is the favourite within the Males’s, and he is the individual that I feel will win,” Roddick instructed Betway. “Will he dominate the yr like he did in 2024?
“There may be the cloud of the WADA case over him, so there’s each likelihood that that is the final time we see him for six months or a yr. Lots is dependent upon how his case shakes out, however I do assume he’s the very best hardcourt participant on the earth.
“He has wrestled that mantle away from Novak Djokovic after a decade-plus run with that moniker. I feel Sinner’s the one to beat in Australia, and I actually wouldn’t wager towards him.”
Reigning Roland Garros and Wimbledon champion Alcaraz handed Sinner three of his six losses in 2024. Alcaraz is taking part in to develop into the youngest man to finish the profession Grand Slam.
Former US Open champion Roddick says consistency can be a key to the Spanish famous person’s Oz Open quest.
“Carlos Alcaraz is his closest rival, however everybody is aware of he wants to seek out extra consistency, and he isn’t saying something totally different,” Roddick instructed Betway. “He received two Slams in 2024, which is nuts. We all know his prime degree is perhaps the very best on the earth. He received all his matches towards Sinner in sanctioned occasions, however the consistency is the difficulty. Who’s extra prone to lose early in a Slam proper now between Sinner and Alcaraz? It is Carlos.
“However I listened to him at an occasion in Charlotte, the place I reside, and he glossed over the 2 Slams in a short time and spent a number of time speaking about how he needs to be extra constant. For me, I am pondering: “OK. You had a yr that was higher than my whole profession, in 5 weeks!” I feel he’s laser centered on what he can enhance upon, and I feel that makes him much more spectacular.”