Andy Roddick Praises Jannik Sinner's Calmness, Compares Him to Federer After US Open Triumph

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Jannik Sinner etched his name into tennis history by becoming the first Italian man to win the US Open men's singles title in 2024. His dominant performance against Taylor Fritz in the final left no doubt about his world No. 1 status.

Sinner controlled the match from start to finish, with the result almost seeming inevitable as he clinched a one-sided victory.

Among those left deeply impressed by Sinner's poise and performance was former US Open champion Andy Roddick, who had the chance to meet the rising star during the latter stages of the tournament in New York.

Roddick, speaking on his Served with Andy Roddick podcast, recounted his encounter with Sinner, describing how the young Italian made an immediate impact on him.

"I said hello to him because you walk in the locker room, and my locker is way to the right, but he takes up kind of that centre area right before you've got to make a move left or right," Roddick shared.

He mentioned that tennis legends Darren Cahill and Andre Agassi were also present, making it feel like an unmissable opportunity to greet them.

Roddick admitted that before this, he had never met Sinner, as he is not as frequent on the tour anymore. "I don't know a lot of the players because I'm not at all the tournaments. I said hello quickly and then got out of the way because my biggest fear ever is being in someone's way when they're getting ready for a match or something." Despite the brief interaction, Roddick was left highly impressed by Sinner's demeanour, especially in the high-stakes environment of a Grand Slam final.

Comparing Sinner to Federer

Roddick then drew an intriguing comparison between Sinner and tennis legend Roger Federer. The former world No. 1 noted the similarity in their composure ahead of major finals.

"But he is the most relaxed person I've ever seen beside Roger before a Slam final. It feels like he has this very quiet confidence about the way that he goes about things," Roddick remarked. He emphasized that Sinner's calmness and focus were remarkable, particularly given the pressure of playing in a Grand Slam final.

Roddick also highlighted that Sinner's celebrations after winning the US Open weren't extravagant or over-the-top. Instead, they seemed more personal, almost as if Sinner had quickly moved on and was ready for the next challenge.

"Even his celebrations aren't for anyone else; it's like this relief like okay, and you feel like he was ready to start again like an hour after the US Open, which is a problem for the rest of the earth," Roddick humorously added, noting that Sinner's relentless drive could spell trouble for his competitors.

With this US Open victory, Sinner has now joined an elite group of players, and if Roddick's observations are anything to go by, the rest of the tennis world should be on alert for what this composed and confident player could achieve next.