Roddick and the new era with Alcaraz and Sinner after the Big 3: "I wouldn't have bet on it, but I appreciate it very much"

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The cascade of reactions in the tennis world continues following the historic final of Roland Garros 2025 between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner. It appears that the memory and impact of this match will endure in the minds of tennis fans for a long time, much like it did with other finals such as Wimbledon 2008 between Rafa Nadal and Roger Federer, considered by many the greatest match of all time, the 2012 Australian Open between Nadal and Novak Djokovic, or the Wimbledon 2019 final between Federer and Djokovic.

The match between the Spanish and the Italian was not only the longest final in Roland Garros's history (5 hours and 29 minutes), but it also confirmed that both are the main figures of the new era in tennis. Currently, the rest of the circuit lags far behind, with the exception of the ever-competitive Djokovic. Andy Roddick discussed this new rivalry on his podcast ‘Serve with Andy Roddick’.

The former number one and US Open 2003 champion did not expect the emergence of two figures like the Spanish and the Italian, especially after the era of Djokovic, Nadal, Federer, and Serena Williams: "I would have lost my house if they had told me that this kind of momentum would exist after Roger [Federer], after Rafa [Nadal], after Serena [Williams], after Novak [Djokovic]. Here we are again, I wouldn't have bet on it, certainly didn't expect it, but damn, I'm very grateful."

Tribute to Tennis and the Players

The American also took the opportunity to praise tennis and its players and place them at the pinnacle of world sports: "I think tennis players are the best athletes in the world. Five hours and some forty minutes on the biggest stages. Compare that with other sports. I don't mean to criticize others by saying this. An NBA game is 48 minutes played in air-conditioned places, with teammates, breaks, timeouts, everything. There's communication. We were used to being seen as: 'Wow, you're soft, like a country club player.' I don't think that perception exists nowadays. I believe tennis players are the best athletes in the world. The more I see it, the more I think about it," stated the Nebraska native.

After defending tennis, Roddick analyzed the epic final between the world's top two players: "The level to which these two have taken this game is simply absurd, just like the three greats before them, they are pushing the game to heights I don't think we've ever seen before. The way Jannik came out and how hard he hit the ball. It was absurd. The fact that it's five hours and 40 minutes and they are still standing. Jannik might be dealing with some cramps and working through it, and Carlos never gives up, and Jannik never gives up. It wasn't like the guy was missing forehands and backhands. You sit there and say, 'Oh, his first-serve percentage dropped four points,' and that will be the difference. It's like the misses are not even misses. It's like you miss a forehand by half a meter and that's it."

Additionally, he had a moment of empathy for Sinner, who wasted three match points: "It's always weird to root for one's successes, but I feel bad for Jannik. I'm sure in his right mind he knows there's nothing to worry about and that he gave it his all. I'm sure he knows that three months ago, this was an incredible result, but that won't change his mind as he lies down to rest."

With the clay court season over and the grass court season beginning, Roddick ventured to predict which rivals could challenge the top two players: "After Novak Djokovic lost, I said he could still win Wimbledon. I'm not sure if I believe he can still win Roland Garros, and I say that cautiously because every time I say something, he ends up doing the impossible. But yes, I think he's a great contender, I think he's right up there with Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner."

But the Serbian is not the only contender; there is another who will play host in London: "Jack Draper, rising to stardom this season and then entering that hype machine that surrounds British players there, there will be a huge spotlight on him, and there are plenty of stories to tell," noted the American, who appreciates the emergence of Sinner and Alcaraz while advocating for tennis.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Roddick y la nueva era con Alcaraz y Sinner después del Big 3: "No habría apostado por ello, pero lo agradezco muchísimo"