Andy Roddick recently compared Rafael Nadal’s peak on clay courts and Jannik Sinner’s triumph in the 2024 Miami Open.
At the Miami Open 2024, Sinner defeated Grigor Dimitrov to capture his second ATP Masters 1000 title. He became the first Italian to hold the No. 2 ranking in the world after this victory.
In the most recent podcast edition, Roddick compared Nadal’s supremacy on clay to Sinner’s outstanding Miami performance. Roddick said: “I’m going to make a point for you about how dominant this performance was by Jannik Sinner. So, as we all know, yes, Novak [Djokovic] is the best of all time numbers, don’t lie, but the most dominant person when you get on a specific surface at a specific time is Rafa [Nadal] on clay. Right, that’s as indisputable as the G.O.A.T. conversation is. I would say that the Rafa conversation on clay may be even more. It is more so.”
Roddick further said: “So what are the statistical comps of Jannik Sinner winning one and two in the semis of a 1000 and then three and one in the finals of a 1000? 2010 Monte-Carlo: Rafa Nadal beats [David] Ferer in the semis; I think it’s like one and two or one and three (6-2, 6-3), and then beats [Fernando] Verdasco in the final zero and one (6-0, 6-1). So to draw a comp to what Sinner just did in Miami, you have to go to prime Nadal on clay and in a Master’s 1000. That’s what you’re comparing this dominance to. Sinner this weekend in Miami to Rafa’s best-ever finish as far as games lost in a Master’s 1000. Sinner in Miami, Rafa prime on clay—that’s the comp for what he just did. I think most of us were saying on the way in that he’s been the best player in the world.”
In addition, Roddick noted that Sinner is enjoying a career-high because of his recent accomplishments, which include winning the Australian Open, and Davis Cup, and matches against top players like Novak Djokovic.
He concluded his discussion and said: “I’ve been on record for saying the last five or six months, and he’s beaten all the players; he’s beaten Novak [Djokovic] three times; he lost his first six in his career against [Daniil] Medvedev and has won the last five. He has won the Masters 1000, has won Davis Cup, has won a Grand Slam, lost to [Carlos] Alcaraz in the semis, won Rotterdam, and won Miami. The statistical comp for what he did last weekend is Rafa in 2010 in Monte-Carlo, a tournament that Rafa has won, you know, tens of times, which is also absurd.”
Jannik Sinner in 2024
Now the world no.2 (career-high), Sinner played his last match on the 31st of March when he overcame world no.9 Grigor Dimitrov 6-3 6-1 in the final in Miami to win his 14th career title.
At present, during this year the Italian achieved a composed 22-1 match record. Jannik conquered 3 titles in 2024 at the Australian Open, Rotterdam and Miami.
Sinner has scheduled to compete next in Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters (Monte–Carlo). He will start to play the tournament from the main draw that will commence on the 7th of April.
Rafael Nadal in 2024
Ranked world no.649, Nadal played his last match on the 5th of January when he lost to world no.33 Jordan Thompson 5-7 7-6(6) 6-3 in the quarter in Brisbane (draw).
At present, during this year Nadal has managed to achieve a 2-1 win-loss record.
Nadal has scheduled to compete next in Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters (Monte–Carlo). He will start from the main draw that will commence on the 7th of April.
Jannik Sinner and Rafael Nadal squared off 3 times. Their actual record is 3-0 for Nadal. Before, the last time they squared off, Rafael Nadal won 7-5 6-3 6-0 in the 4th round in Paris (French Open) in June 2021.
In the video below you can watch the highlights.
Jannik Sinner and Rafael Nadal |
| Embed from Getty Images |