Alcaraz cruised through the New York Major, dropping just one set in the entire tournament—against Sinner in the final. His dominance reminded Roddick of the best moments of Roger Federer. “I saw a fearless Carlos with every ball, his way of hitting the slice now is something different, a bit like Federer,” Roddick said on the Served podcast.

The American also suggested that Alcaraz may have studied Grigor Dimitrov’s Wimbledon match against Sinner, in which the Bulgarian led two sets to none before retiring due to injury.

“I think he was watching the Dimitrov versus Sinner match at Wimbledon, what the Bulgarian did before having to retire when he was leading by two sets to zero, or at least I think that match had an impact on his tactics, as he used that shot several times,” Roddick added.

He also praised Alcaraz’s improved serve. “Obviously, it is clear that his serve has considerably improved compared to the past. His first serve is becoming more powerful and effective, which is not fun for the rest of his opponents,” Roddick said.

Roddick on the new rivalry stepping into the Big Three’s shadow

With Novak Djokovic now the last active member of the Big Three, tennis fans had felt a void without a rivalry as intense as the one between Djokovic, Nadal, and Federer.

However, the rapid rise of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner has quickly filled that gap. The last eight Grand Slam titles have been claimed by either Sinner or Alcaraz. The Spaniard won Roland Garros in 2024 and 2025, as well as Wimbledon in 2024, while the Italian captured the Australian Open in 2024 and 2025, the 2024 US Open, and most recently Wimbledon, where he defeated Alcaraz in the final.

For Roddick, this emerging rivalry between the young stars is a major positive for the sport. “The reality is that this new rivalry is a true gift for us and for the world of tennis in general,” Roddick said. “I can only have words of respect for these two boys. We are fortunate to see how they have immediately filled the void left by the ‘Big 3’ and Serena Williams. Again, they are a gift for tennis”.

Despite the Italian holding the World No. 1 ranking for most of the year, Roddick did not shy away from discussing Sinner’s demeanor after his defeats in the 2025 Grand Slams, noting that he behaved like a “gentleman,” in Roddick’s words.

“Sinner has had a tumultuous year, with a lot of situations open to opinion. However, one undeniable fact is the class he exhibits in defeat,” Roddick remarked on Sinner.

Roddick continued, “The Roland Garros final must have been an emotional rollercoaster, yet he handled it magnificently. At the US Open final, he was aware he wasn’t at his peak, and he conducted himself accordingly. My respect for these athletes has only grown!“

Roddick’s reflections on Sinner’s commitment to improvement

Following Sinner’s comments at the US Open, Roddick lauded the Italian player on the podcast, particularly appreciating Sinner’s focus on improving in forthcoming tournaments.

“The self-awareness displayed immediately after a match is incredible. You’ve won four Grand Slams in the last two years. Few would think, ‘There are still areas for improvement,'” Roddick noted about Sinner’s commentary during the US Open finals press conference.

With Roddick’s observations on Sinner and the challenges that lie ahead, the Italian star acknowledges the work required for future performances. His winning mentality, combined with the grace he shows in defeats, speaks volumes about the former World No. 1.

To make the final, Shelton navigated a brutal path—taking down two top-10 opponents in back-to-back matches. He first defeated World No. 10 Alex de Minaur in the quarterfinals, then powered past World No. 4 Fritz to punch his ticket to the title match.

At just 22 years and 291 days, Shelton became the youngest American to defeat top-10 opponents in both the quarterfinal and semifinal rounds of a Masters 1000 event since Pete Sampras did it at the 1992 Cincinnati Open.

And that wasn’t the only slice of history. Shelton also became the youngest American to reach a Masters 1000 final since Andy Roddick did it in Toronto in 2004, when he was 21. Now ranked No. 7 in the world, Shelton will face Karen Khachanov in the final as he looks to secure his first Masters 1000 title and the third title of his ATP career.

Shelton reflects on his game: ‘There are a lot of things to be proud about’

After his semifinal victory over Fritz, Ben Shelton expressed excitement over the strides he’s made in his game throughout the Canadian Open. The 22-year-old has dropped just two sets across five matches en route to the final.

“I’ve seen so many big improvements in my game this week, that’s what I’m most happy about, how I’m executing, how little I’m hesitating, how I’m returning,” Shelton said. “There are a lot of things to be proud about and beating two top 10 guys back to back is huge for me”.

Shelton became the youngest American player to reach at least the fourth round at three Grand Slams in a single year since 2004. He did it at just 22 years and 9 months old, matching a feat last accomplished by Roddick when he was also 22.

Shelton’s Wimbledon run began with a win over Alex Bolt, followed by victories against Rinky Hijikata and Fucsovics. With those results, he’s now reached the Round of 16 at a major tournament for the third consecutive time—after his semifinal appearance at the Australian Open and a fourth-round exit at Roland Garros.

He also matched his previous best result at Wimbledon, which came last year when he lost in the fourth round to Jannik Sinner. At other Grand Slam events, however, Shelton has gone deeper: he was a semifinalist at the 2023 US Open and, as mentioned, also at the 2025 Australian Open.

Shelton reflects on his third-round victory

After wrapping up the match against Marton Fucsovics, Ben Shelton held a press conference and expressed satisfaction with his performance. “I had a lot of fun today. It is always special playing here at Wimbledon,” he said, according to the official website of the ATP Tour. “This is my third time playing on Court 1. It is a special atmosphere. I am trying to make my way to Centre Court, maybe I will get there one day.”

The World No. 10 also opened up about the importance of the support around him. “It is not just me, I have a great team. My parents are here. My girlfriend is here. Also, my sister is here and she’s been here for every match that I have played so far,” Shelton revealed.

What’s next for Shelton?

Now in the fourth round, Ben Shelton will look to achieve his best-ever result at Wimbledon. To do so, he’ll need to defeat Lorenzo Sonego in the Round of 16, a match scheduled for Monday. The winner will face either Jannik Sinner or Grigor Dimitrov in the quarterfinals.

Sinner, the top seed at Roland Garros, headlines the upper half of the draw and will begin his campaign on Sunday, May 25, against World No. 72 Arthur Rinderknech. The pair has met three times, with Sinner holding a 2-1 edge over the Frenchman.

Speaking on his podcast, Served with Andy Roddick, the former World No. 1 highlighted the stark contrast between the warm reception Sinner received in Rome and the atmosphere awaiting him in Paris. Facing a French opponent early in the tournament, Roddick warned Sinner to prepare for a much tougher crowd.

“I’m just telling you, as nice as the reception was for Sinner in Rome, where he got standing ovations from the press when speaking to the media, Paris will be different,” Roddick explained. “It’s like two Frenchmen right out of the gate—that’s a guarantee. And then Arthur Fils. He’s going to hear it from the French crowd in Paris for the first week of this year’s French Open”.

The former World No.1 noted that the Parisian crowd might take aim at Sinner, possibly referencing his recent suspension. While Sinner has demonstrated an ability to stay composed under pressure, Roddick acknowledged the potential difficulty of navigating such an environment.

“He’s going to deal with some things coming off this suspension,” Roddick added. “It doesn’t seem to bother him—he seems like he’s able to compartmentalize. But you hear it, you just do. He handles it better than most, but that doesn’t mean it’s not there”.

Sinner and Alcaraz lead youthful charge at Roland Garros

Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz enter the French Open as the top two seeds, marking a historic moment for the sport. At 23 and 22 years old, respectively, they are the youngest top two seeds at a Grand Slam in 19 years.

The last time a similar scenario unfolded was at the 2006 US Open, when Roger Federer, then 25, and Rafael Nadal, just 20, were the top two seeds. Sinner and Alcaraz now aim to etch their names in the record books at Roland Garros.

Djokovic, making his return to clay since the 2024 Paris Olympics, reflected on his disappointing early elimination and described his performance as “horrible.” Against Tabilo, the Serbian star committed 29 unforced errors and looked far from the form he displayed in Miami.

While the result surprised many fans, Roddick dismissed the idea that it’s a cause for alarm. “It should be viewed as normal. I don’t think that the base level for Novak for a successful year is two majors anymore,” Roddick said in an appearance on Tennis Channel.

For Roddick, the real concern isn’t this loss but Djokovic’s ability to prepare for future success. “I think the question is, ‘Can I build up my season? Can I peak for the majors, right? Can I be as good once as I ever was?’ Right? I think that matters a little bit more,” Roddick continued.

The former World No. 1 also pointed out that Djokovic might not have taken the tournament as seriously as others, using it as a stepping stone for the clay season. “I don’t know if we would have seen Novak here in this tournament, or for the last couple of years frankly, if he didn’t live up the street, right?” he added.

“I think this is almost paid practice for him,” Roddick explained. “He’s going to reset. Next Monday, he’s still going to be in Monte Carlo training to get ready for the clay-court season, so I don’t put a ton of stock in this”.

Djokovic reflects on his unexpected loss

Before the tournament began, Djokovic admitted that his expectations weren’t high, but even he didn’t foresee such a poor showing. “I expected myself at least to have put in a decent performance. Not like this, it was horrible,” Djokovic admitted in his post-match comments via ATP Tour. “I did not have high expectations. I knew I’m going to have a tough opponent, and I knew I’m going to probably play pretty bad. But this bad, I didn’t expect”.

Djokovic didn’t shy away from addressing his fans, apologizing for his subpar performance. “I was hoping it was not going to happen, but it was quite a high probability I’m going to play this way. … A horrible feeling to play this way. Just sorry for all the people that have to witness this”.

“When he’s not playing well or not feeling comfortable, he goes more aggressive. That’s hard, and most of the greats throughout history tend to dial it back, find some margin, and then all of a sudden you’re consistent enough where you can take more risks and it’s not irresponsible,” Roddick began on his podcast Served.

“I almost want him to go into a match and say, ‘Okay, for the first six games, I’m literally going to take this person’s legs out, and my ball is heavier than theirs. They’re going to have to hit winners for six games,’” the former American star continued.

However, Andy also speculated that this style might not appeal to Alcaraz. “I don’t think he likes getting winners hit on him. I think he likes to be the one that dictates, and that’s his superpower. And sometimes our superpowers can also be weaknesses when not used in the right moments,” Roddick said. “It’s probably too boring for him. Honestly, I think he needs to be bored sometimes when he’s playing.”

Roddick praises Alcaraz

In the same Served episode, Andy Roddick discussed Carlos Alcaraz’s recent performances. “He loses in the semis at Indian Wells, and people are like, ‘How does that happen?’ Still pretty good,” he said, making it clear that he didn’t think the loss to Jack Draper in the California desert was all that troubling. However, he did acknowledge: “The first-round loss (in Miami) was bad.”

Nonetheless, Roddick showered the young Spanish star with praise. “You won’t find a bigger fan than me, he’s my favorite player to watch,” said the former World No. 1. “His inconsistency sometimes almost makes him relatable. And you can see him kind of churning the wheels of decision-making in real-time.”

What’s next for Alcaraz?

After his early exit from the Miami Open against David Goffin, Carlos Alcaraz had over two weeks of rest before focusing on the Monte-Carlo Masters. He will start his campaign on Tuesday, April 8, in the Round of 32 against the winner of the match between Fabio Fognini and Francisco Cerundolo.

Djokovic showcased an outstanding level of play in Miami, not dropping a single set until the final against Mensik. Speaking on his podcast, Served, Roddick praised Djokovic’s performance and emphasized that the 24-time Grand Slam champion remains a serious contender for major titles.

“Extraordinary. There’s just not a world that anyone is saying Djokovic was disappointing because he didn’t win that final. What? He’s almost 38 years old, didn’t drop a set until the final, and lost two breakers,” Roddick said. “If they played the match again tomorrow, I would bet on Novak on that surface”.

Roddick also noted that court conditions could be a significant factor in Djokovic’s Grand Slam chances, particularly when they favor his game. “He can still win a major, especially when the surface is giving him some love, like it was in Miami. Where the ball is getting through the court, where he doesn’t have to protect the sidelines as much and doesn’t have to play as much defense,” he continued.

Even though Roddick wasn’t certain if Djokovic would win another major, he expressed confidence that the Serbian’s level of play is still good enough to do so. “Is the product he is putting out there good enough to win a major? Yes, it is. Will it happen? I don’t know,” Roddick admitted.

Could Andy Murray help Djokovic’s Grand Slam pursuit?

The American also pointed out that the addition of Andy Murray as Djokovic’s coach could provide extra motivation for the Serbian as he continues his quest for a 25th Grand Slam title.

“He seems happy playing right now. He seems motivated to play right now. He has someone different to report to. Maybe that’s the benefit of the Murray situation,” Roddick noted.

Djokovic remains a top Grand Slam contender

Despite Djokovic approaching his 38th birthday, Roddick still considers him one of the top three favorites to win a Grand Slam this season. “So long as he is in tennis, it’s better to watch. Even a version of him, and I say this gently, where he is ‘only’ the third favorite in every Slam now,” Roddick said. “He’s going to be 38, but are you going to put him outside of the top three to win Wimbledon? No, he’s your third favorite. Sinner, Alcaraz, and Djokovic”.

The 2025 Miami Open ended in surprise when 19-year-old rising star Jakub Mensik defeated Novak Djokovic in straight sets to win his first Masters 1000 title. Former World No. 1 Andy Roddick analyzed the match and revealed the one shot from the Czech player he was most impressed with: his serve. He even compared it to Roger Federer’s.

“My biggest takeaway is that serve is gonna win him a lot of matches when he is not playing perfectly in other parts of his game. His first serve is elite. His ability to hit all four corners of the same toss,” Roddick said on the April 1st episode of his podcast ‘Served with Roddick.’

“The guy would step up and hit his shot. He would miss forehands, he would miss backhands sometimes. But then, he had that kind of shooter’s mentality where it’s like ‘ok, this is the best path to where I can actually pull off these wins and so I’m gonna step up and do it’,” the 2003 US Open champion continued.

That’s when the comparison with Federer, a 20-time Grand Slam champion, came: “What made Federer a great server is that he could throw the ball over his head like a kick serve and then hit a slice out wide. So you never really had a total read so you never felt comfortable, Mensik’s able to hit bombs off the same toss.”

This is not the first time that Roddick has shared how difficult it was to read Federer’s serve. In 2020, he revealed that he struggled with the serve. He also revealed that the Swiss’ ability to return with little small movements was “frustrating.”

Mensik’s first Masters 1000: A new rising star

After Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal’s retirement, tennis officially entered a new era in which new stars, such as Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, emerged as the dominant players. However, soon enough, some teens have started to make some noise.

Mensik’s win over Djokovic could mark the beginning of a new splendid career. With his triumph in Miami, he became the first Czech to win an ATP Masters 1000 title since Tomas Berdych in 2005. Mensik has now reached a new career high of No. 24, after moving up more than 30 positions.

While Roger Federer may be behind in the “greatest of all time” debate by the numbers, when it comes to technique alone, he is preferred by many of his peers. It has often been said that nobody was more elegant, fluid, or effective than him. But what was his most difficult shot? Former World No. 1 Andy Roddick, one of his early big rivals, has revealed which aspects of Federer’s game he struggled with the most.

Speaking to Tennis Channel in 2020, Roddick said that his ability to “with very, very small movements, put the ball back in play. Once we were neutral, it was to his advantage,” explaining that “His ability to counter my pace with very little movement and make a ton of returns was frustrating.”

Apart from Federer’s physical control, Roddick also said that his serve was one of the most difficult to read. “I mean this in a positive way because I think the person who messed with their toss and pacing of their serve, who could play that kind of hurry-up, was Agassi. He wasn’t an unbelievable server in terms of pace and movement, but he pitched such a good ballgame. Andre was almost like Greg Maddux, whereas Pete [Sampras] was more powerful and had the placement. I think Roger was almost a hybrid between the two,” he explained.

He compared Federer’s serve with the great pitchers. “The greatest pitchers aren’t scared to throw a curveball on a 3-2 count—Roger was the same way. He would throw a 97 mph kicker for a first serve just as easily as he would hit the big one out wide. He didn’t really have predictable habits, which made it frustrating,” Roddick explained.

He continued, “He could move the second serve around the box, shorten it, lengthen it, and hit it both ways. What he didn’t have was just natural pace—he still hit a great serve, 125, 126 consistently, which, if you’re hitting your spots, is plenty. He was a great pitcher in terms of keeping you on edge, never letting you know what was coming—fast, slow, with no obvious tendencies. It was annoying.”

Roddick and Federer’s head to head

Andy Roddick and Roger Federer faced each other 24 times on the ATP Tour, with Federer dominating their head-to-head record 21-3. Their rivalry was defined by several major finals, with Federer consistently getting the upper hand in Grand Slam title matches. Roddick’s three victories came in lower-stakes tournaments, including the 2003 Canada Masters and 2008 Miami Open.

The most significant meetings between the two came in Grand Slam finals, particularly at Wimbledon, where they clashed in the championship match three times. Federer defeated Roddick in the 2004, 2005, and 2009 Wimbledon finals, with their final encounter being the most memorable. In 2009, Roddick played one of the best matches of his career, holding serve for most of the five-set battle before Federer broke him for the first time late in the final set, winning 16-14.

After eliminating Mariano Navone and Karen Khachanov in the opening rounds of the tournament, Ben faced Nakashima in the Round of 16. He won in commanding fashion, 7-6, 6-1, earning a spot in the quarterfinals. At just 22 years of age, Shelton became the youngest American player to reach the Indian Wells quarterfinals in the past two decades.

The last time an American achieved this feat was in the 2004 edition, when Andy Roddick, then 21 years old, reached the quarterfinals after defeating Jean-Michel Gambill, Marat Safin, and Nicolas Escude. Roddick was ultimately defeated by Tim Henman in three sets.

Shelton reflects on his performance

Following his victory over Brandon Nakashima, Ben Shelton addressed the media and shared his thoughts on the match. “For me, the second set was outstanding. Whenever you can get a two-break win in a set against a server like him, it’s really encouraging for where my level is at,” he said, according to the official ATP Tour website.

“I am pleased with my performance today. I think there are things I am trying to add into my game each week, and I am trying to implement them this week,” Shelton continued. “Sometimes things don’t work all the time. I make execution mistakes. I feel my intent has been really good this week, and that has been a huge part of my success.”

What’s next for Shelton at Indian Wells?

Currently ranked 12th in the ATP rankings, Ben Shelton knows that the points he earns at Indian Wells will bring him closer to his goal of breaking into the top ten for the first time in his professional career. In the quarterfinals, he will face the winner between Taylor Fritz and Jack Draper.

“I feel confident. It is a big goal for me to keep improving and keep going deeper in the big events,” Shelton said. “I had some success at Slams, and Masters events are a big goal for me this year because there are so many throughout the year and they are high stakes. I am pleased to be in another quarterfinal, but I am searching for more.”