Two months ago, Andy Roddick made headlines when he defended Jannik Sinner amidst the latter’s 3-month suspension, stating candidly, “I say this up front, I don’t think Sinner knowingly cheated, I don’t think he intentionally did. I think his trainer f***ed up in epic ways, but we are responsible for what our teams do.” Now, with Sinner’s suspension ending on May 4, Roddick is once again voicing support for the Italian: this time suggesting a formidable training ally ahead of his return. Interestingly, the American ex-pro is hinting towards someone closely linked to Sinner’s fiercest rival, Novak Djokovic and hence, stirring intrigue. Guess who is Roddick talking about?

The World No. 1 Jannik Sinner started his 2025 season in a dominating fashion, clinching the AO title with a straight-sets victory over Alexander Zverev. However, his momentum came to a sudden halt after receiving a 3-month suspension right before Valentine’s Day, forcing him to miss key events like the Indian Wells and Miami Masters. 

He’s also set to skip both the Monte Carlo Masters and Madrid Open before making his much-anticipated return at the Italian Open in May. And as fans count down the days, former US Open champion Andy Roddick chimed in with thoughts on how he would’ve approached the downtime. He also dropped a hint about a potential training partner for Sinner on his comeback.

Speaking on the latest episode of his Served with Andy Roddick podcast, which aired on April 8, Andy said, “Weirdly, if I was Sinner, the perfect person to maybe have brought in for two weeks at a time or four weeks at a time during this suspension, someone who can still play at a top 50 or 60 level, would have been someone like Andy Murray. Fresh off tour, can hit a big ball, can play extended points.”

Roddick continued, “I have got to think that as soon as this comes down, my mind would have automatically gone – and we don’t know what he is doing, it is very private – but I would have gone instantly to go and find people who were borderline top 100 who had retired in the last six months. That is who I would have tried to train with, someone who was just off tour,” 

In a fascinating twist, the former British no. 1 Andy Murray, who has been training alongside Novak Djokovic in 2025, could play an indirect role in Jannik Sinner’s road to redemption. The former top seed joined Djokovic’s coaching team at the start of the year and has been a key presence in top-tier practice sessions. Interestingly, they both have crossed paths on the court twice before, splitting their meetings 1-1. Murray edged out the Italian in Stockholm back in 2021, while Sinner took revenge in Dubai the following year with a commanding 7-5, 6-2 win.

With Roland Garros looming on the horizon, Roddick sees Sinner as a dark horse contender: one who could turn adversity into opportunity and make a powerful push at the French Open.

Andy Roddick shares his views on Jannik Sinner’s Roland-Garros hopes

Choosing to accept the ban instead of risking a longer suspension through the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS), Jannik Sinner missed high-stakes events, including Indian Wells, Miami, Monte Carlo, and Madrid. While it’s a significant blow to his rankings and earnings, some believe the hiatus may have a silver lining.

Former US Open champion Andy Roddick, while being on the same podcast, proposed that the obligatory interruption could yield unforeseen benefits. Given the strenuous competition and busy schedule of his rivals, Sinner’s return may afford him the opportunity for a revitalized and strategic pursuit of his first French Open title at Roland Garros.

“I don’t think you are ever a winner when you get suspended for three months… but will he look back in a year in a half and say you know what, that was decent. I had a pretty hectic schedule, played two majors [this summer], was there a benefit to it? Maybe. What’s going to happen is one of two things. He’s not going to play as well in Rome or the French Open, and by the way, it’s not his best surface, so we are going to overreact to whatever the result is for Jannik Sinner when he comes back. We will say ‘that really hurt him’ if he loses in Rome, or if he loses in the semi-finals of the French Open, but that could have happened [whether he was banned or not],” Roddick said.

Sinner is likely to make his comeback at the Rome Masters next month, where the Italian will headline the draw as the top seed. After a three-month break, do you believe he’ll return with the same blazing form he showed at the AO? Share your thoughts in the comments below!