“The biggest mark against him is that he’s not Federer, Nadal, Djokovic, Alcaraz” – Andy Roddick makes full-throated defense of Alexander Zverev
On June 16, 2025, Andy Roddick passionately defended Alexander Zverev on his Served podcast, addressing the German’s lack of a Grand Slam title despite a stellar career. Roddick argued, “The biggest mark against him is that he’s not Federer, Nadal, Djokovic, Alcaraz,” emphasizing that Zverev’s elite achievements are unfairly overshadowed by comparisons to tennis’ greatest, per Sportskeeda. The former world No. 1 expressed frustration at critics who dismiss Zverev’s 24 ATP titles, seven Masters 1000 crowns, two ATP Finals, and 2021 Olympic gold because he’s 0-3 in Slam finals, losing to Dominic Thiem (2020 US Open), Carlos Alcaraz (2024 French Open), and Jannik Sinner (2025 Australian Open), per Tennis365.
Zverev’s ‘Weird Place’ and Resilience
Roddick highlighted Zverev’s “weird place” as world No. 3, where his consistency—66-20 win-loss in 2024 and a 2025 Boss Open final loss to Taylor Fritz (7-6(4), 6-3)—is undervalued due to Slam failures, per Tennis World USA. He praised Zverev’s recovery from a 2022 French Open ankle injury, noting, “He’s back to where he was,” and suggested tactical tweaks like serve-and-volley to bolster his game, per The Tennis Gazette. Roddick dismissed calls for Zverev to play closer to the baseline as “idiotic,” citing his forehand’s technical limitations, per Reddit.
Context and Comparisons
Zverev’s critics, including Roger Federer, who called his play “too passive” in clutch moments, fuel the narrative, per. Yet, Roddick countered that Zverev’s era, dominated by Sinner and Alcaraz, is exceptionally tough, unlike David Ferrer’s prime against the Big Three, whom Roddick named the best Slam-less player, per Sportskeeda. X posts, like @CristinaNcl’s, echoed Roddick’s defense: “I’m not going to criticize someone for being elite,” per. Roddick’s own struggles against Federer (3-21 head-to-head) informed his empathy, as he recalled losing focus on lesser opponents while fixating on the Swiss, per Sportskeeda.
Looking Ahead
With Wimbledon 2025 looming, where Zverev has never reached the quarter-finals, Roddick’s call to appreciate Zverev’s 76.7% win rate and No. 2 ranking in 2024 resonates, per Tennis365. “Math is math,” Roddick said, urging fans to value Zverev’s consistency, per EssentiallySports. As Zverev, 27, eyes a Slam breakthrough, Roddick’s defense reframes his narrative as one of resilience, not failure.
