Jannik Sinner is making tennis history—and he’s doing it in style. In 2024, the young Italian shattered records, clinched two Grand Slam titles, and established himself as a dominant World No. 1. He ended the season with a jaw-dropping 73-6 win-loss record, winning eight ATP titles, including the Australian Open, the US Open, and leading Italy to a successful Davis Cup defense. As if that wasn’t enough, Sinner has kicked off 2025 by defending his Australian Open title, solidifying his dominance on the biggest stages. This has caused Andy Roddick to compare him to the ultimate standard- ‘The Big Three’ of tennis. What did he say?

In the latest edition of his podcast ‘Served With Andy Roddick,’ the former US Open champion recapped the Australian Open and reacted to the Men’s final, where Jannik Sinner overcame Alexander Zverev to take the crown. Speaking about the unique challenges Sinner presents to opponents, the American veteran said, “I’m confused because similar to the problems that Novak in his prime presented Roger and his prime presented Rafa on a fast surface. It was a little different because you had some time maybe to hit the ball. On clay obviously is the toughest matchup in the history of sports trying to beat him on clay. But you can’t really go through Sinner right now, right?”

Roddick highlighted the Italian player’s ability to take down even the strongest opponents in big matches. “Like you look at who he’s beaten in the last two slam finals. It was Taylor Fritz who makes a living going through people and Alex Zverev who makes a living serving through people and then hitting backhands through the court to gain an edge. He doesn’t give an inch,” Roddick concluded.

Sinner’s dominance isn’t just about winning matches—it’s about the way he plays. Against both Fritz and Zverev in the finals, the Italian tennis player emerged victorious in straight sets. In fact, the 23-year-old tennis star broke one of Roger Federer’s long-standing records by winning 21 consecutive sets against top-10 opponents. Federer had previously held the record with 20 consecutive sets between 2006 and 2007.

Even his rivals have taken notice. Alexander Zverev, after facing Sinner in a major final, said playing him reminded him of “prime Novak.” The comparison holds weight—the World No.1 has proven himself a hard-court specialist, winning all three of his Grand Slam titles on the surface. He is now the fifth player in the Open Era to win three consecutive hard-court Grand Slam titles, a feat last achieved by Novak Djokovic in 2015-16.

While Sinner hasn’t yet conquered clay, he has already matched one of the ‘king of clay’ Rafael Nadal’s milestones. By defending his first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open, Sinner became the first player since Nadal in 2005-06 to achieve consecutive victories in their debut Grand Slam event.

However, Jannik Sinner likes to believe that there is a difference between the two Australian Open victories,

Jannik Sinner opens up on ‘special’ Australian Open victory

The morning after securing his second consecutive Australian Open title, Jannik Sinner took the trophy to the nearby Albert Park Lake, where he revealed to the press how this triumph was different from his success Down Under last year.

“The first one is more kind of relief. It’s different. It gives you the [knowledge] that you can do it if you play some great tennis,” Sinner shared. “The second one, this one, maybe you enjoy it a bit more because it’s different. But every Grand Slam, or every tournament you win, or you go far, it has its own story. You have to pass difficulties, like I did also this year here, and this makes it very, very special.”

Despite his success, the Australian Open champion’s journey hasn’t been without challenges. In 2024, he faced a doping controversy after testing positive for clostebol, a prohibited substance, during the Indian Wells tournament. Sinner maintained that the contamination occurred during a massage from his physiotherapist. The International Tennis Federation (ITF) cleared him of any wrongdoing, but the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) is appealing the decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), seeking a potential one- to two-year ban.

Sinner’s hearing is scheduled for April 16-17, just over a month before the French Open begins.

Jannik Sinner’s rise has been nothing short of spectacular, with records shattered, titles claimed, and comparisons drawn to the sport’s legends. Will he continue to dominate and cement his place among the all-time greats or will a ban dampen his career? Share your thoughts in the comments below.