Andy Roddick explains why Aryna Sabalenka is the ‘clear-cut favorite’ for Wimbledon 2025, snubs Coco Gauff for Elena Rybakina

Andy Roddick Backs Aryna Sabalenka as Wimbledon 2025 Favorite, Prefers Elena Rybakina Over Coco Gauff

Andy Roddick, the 2003 US Open champion, declared Aryna Sabalenka the “clear-cut favorite” for Wimbledon 2025 (June 30-July 13) on his *Served with Andy Roddick* podcast, citing her powerful game and grass-court suitability, while ranking Elena Rybakina above Coco Gauff in the contender list. Speaking with journalist Jon Wertheim on June 10, 2025, Roddick emphasized Sabalenka’s dominance despite her 6-7(5), 6-2, 6-4 loss to Gauff in the French Open 2025 final on June 7, stating, “There is not a person to be bet on more confidently than Sabalenka at Wimbledon,” per www.sportskeeda.com.[](https://www.sportskeeda.com/tennis/news-andy-roddick-explains-aryna-sabalenka-clear-cut-favorite-wimbledon-2025-snubs-coco-gauff-elena-rybakina)

Roddick highlighted Sabalenka’s athleticism and ball-striking, noting, “Her game and her athleticism, that translates,” even after her Roland Garros defeat, per www.the-express.com. Sabalenka, world No. 1, has reached Wimbledon semi-finals in 2021 and 2023, though she missed 2024 due to a shoulder injury, per www.wtatennis.com. Wertheim reinforced her grass-court prowess, recalling her strong play despite a 2022 Russia/Belarus ban and last year’s absence, saying, “Sabalenka can play really well on grass,” per www.thetennisgazette.com.

While acknowledging Gauff’s French Open triumph—her second Grand Slam after the 2023 US Open—Roddick argued her clay-court strengths don’t fully translate to grass. “A lot goes right for Coco as soon as she steps on a clay court. She’s amazing, but that doesn’t mean her spaces where she needs to work change immediately,” he said, per www.sportskeeda.com. Gauff, world No. 2, has never advanced past Wimbledon’s fourth round, with a shock 2023 first-round exit, per www.the-express.com. Roddick suggested her defensive style and second-serve vulnerabilities could hinder her against big hitters like Sabalenka on grass, per www.thetennisgazette.com.

Roddick placed 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina on his “short list” alongside Madison Keys, ahead of Gauff. “Rybakina is going to be on the short list, and Maddie is going to be on the short list,” he said, per www.sportskeeda.com. Rybakina’s serve and flat-hitting style thrive on grass, as Roddick noted in 2023: “Everything that is a struggle for Rybakina on clay… is additive at Wimbledon,” per www.tennisworldusa.org. Wertheim ranked Gauff second behind Sabalenka, with Keys third, per www.thetennisgazette.com.[](https://www.sportskeeda.com/tennis/news-andy-roddick-explains-aryna-sabalenka-clear-cut-favorite-wimbledon-2025-snubs-coco-gauff-elena-rybakina)[](https://www.tennisworldusa.org/tennis/news/WTA_Tennis/134187/andy-roddick-details-why-elena-rybakina-is-no-1-wimbledon-favorite/)[](https://www.thetennisgazette.com/news/andy-roddick-picks-who-he-believes-is-the-clear-cut-favorite-to-win-wimbledon-between-coco-gauff-and-aryna-sabalenka/)

Roddick also raised concerns about Sabalenka’s mental state after losing consecutive Grand Slam finals (Australian Open and French Open 2025), asking, “Is there going to be a hangover from losing two Slam finals in a row?” per www.sportskeeda.com. Yet, he remained confident in her resilience, bolstered by her 2024 Australian Open and US Open titles, per www.essentiallysports.com. Posts on X, like @ExpressUSSport, echoed Roddick’s endorsement, amplifying Sabalenka’s favoritism, per @ExpressUSSport. As the grass season looms, Sabalenka’s power, Rybakina’s precision, and Gauff’s grit set the stage for a thrilling Wimbledon.