Andy Roddick claims what Andy Murray would have been ‘perfect’ for to help Jannik Sinner during his ban from tennis
As Jannik Sinner prepares for his return at the Italian Open next month, tennis legend Andy Roddick has offered an intriguing perspective on how the world No. 1 could have optimized his three-month suspension from the sport.
Sinner, who clinched the Australian Open title in January by defeating Alexander Zverev in straight sets (6-3, 7-6, 6-3), has been sidelined from competition due to a ban that’s kept him out of major events like the Miami and Indian Wells Masters. He’ll also miss this week’s Monte Carlo Masters and the Madrid Open later in April.
Roddick’s Take: “Murray Would’ve Been Perfect”
On his podcast, former World No. 1 Andy Roddick shared who he believes would’ve been the perfect training partner for Sinner during his downtime—none other than Andy Murray.
“Weirdly, if I were Sinner, I’d have brought in someone like Andy Murray for a couple of weeks during the suspension,” Roddick said. “He’s just off tour, still capable of playing at a top 50 or 60 level, can hit a big ball, and go deep into points.”
Roddick continued, explaining the value of training with recently retired or borderline top-100 players, who still bring elite ball-striking to the court despite stepping away from full-time competition.
“You want someone who can hit the ball like a top 50 player but maybe has the yips on the serve. That heavy pace is irreplaceable.”
Murray’s 2025 Role—and Past with Sinner
Interestingly, Murray has been working closely with one of Sinner’s top rivals, Novak Djokovic, having joined the Serbian’s coaching team earlier this year.
As for their on-court history, Sinner and Murray have faced each other twice on the ATP Tour, each winning one match:
- 2022 Dubai Open – Sinner def. Murray 7-5, 6-2
- 2021 Stockholm Open – Murray def. Sinner 7-6, 6-3
They were set for a third clash at the 2023 Canadian Open, but Murray withdrew prior to the match.
Sinner vs Djokovic: A Rivalry Brewing
Sinner also has a growing rivalry with Djokovic, the player Murray now mentors. Their head-to-head currently sits at 4-4, featuring high-stakes encounters like:
- 2024 Australian Open Final – Sinner def. Djokovic 6-1, 6-2, 6-7, 6-3
- 2024 Shanghai Final – Sinner def. Djokovic 7-6, 6-3
- 2023 ATP Finals Final – Djokovic def. Sinner 6-3, 6-3
With Sinner returning to action at the Rome-based Italian Open on May 7, tennis fans are already anticipating a possible showdown with Djokovic or another top rival as the 23-year-old looks to continue his stellar 2025.
