Andy Roddick issued a stark warning to Jannik Sinner ahead of his 2025 French Open campaign, highlighting the potential for a hostile reception from the Roland Garros crowd due to Sinner’s recent doping controversy. Speaking on his *Served with Andy Roddick* podcast, as reported by Tennis365.com on May 23, 2025, Roddick noted that while Sinner received a warm welcome in Rome during his Italian Open return, the French crowd could be far less forgiving. “I’m just telling you, as nice as the reception was for Sinner when he had that soft landing in Rome… Roland Garros, they will boo their mother’s cooking! You get sideways with the French crowd, and they will just boo you,” Roddick said. He emphasized that Sinner’s three-month suspension for testing positive for clostebol in March 2024, which ended in May 2025, might fuel crowd backlash, especially given the polarized online debate about the ban’s leniency or severity.
Sinner, the world No. 1 and top seed, faces Arthur Rinderknech in the first round and could meet Arthur Fils in the fourth, with a potential quarterfinal against Alex de Minaur. Despite his 2024 French Open semifinal run, where he lost to Carlos Alcaraz in five sets, Roddick believes Sinner’s clay game—while capable, as he was “weirdly close” to winning last year—may face challenges due to the crowd’s intensity and his need to adapt tactically. Sinner’s Italian Open final loss to Alcaraz (7-6(5), 6-1) showed vulnerabilities, particularly in return positioning and second-serve defense, areas Roddick suggested need improvement to counter Alcaraz’s versatility. Posts on X, like @tennis365com’s, echoed Roddick’s concerns, noting the crowd’s potential impact. Sinner, aware of the scrutiny, told reporters in Rome, “I’m still here… but I can’t wait to be in Paris,” signaling his focus despite the looming pressure.[](https://www.tennis365.com/tennis-news/andy-roddick-sends-warning-jannik-sinner-ahead-french-open-campaign)
