Every AO is Sinner’s last activity for six months.

Author: Richard Pagliaro @Nowtennis | Friday, January 10, 2025
Photo credit: Kelly Defina/Getty

The first Grand Slam of the season is likely to be Jannik Sinner's The former world number one says this is his last match for six months Andy Roddick.

Hall of Famer Roddick is backing Sinner to successfully defend his Australian Open title this month, but he could face a doping ban.

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Last March, Sinner twice tested positive for the banned steroid clotidol, with the International Tennis Integrity Agency declaring the levels to be “low” just days before the U.S. Open. Sinner was not suspended and was allowed to compete because an independent tribunal ruled he was “not at fault” for steroid contamination in his system. Sinner went on to win the 2024 U.S. Open.

world anti-doping agency Sinner's steroid case under appeal Court of Arbitration for Sport— and seeks a one- to two-year ban from the U.S. Open champion.

written in his Betway's AO preview columnRoddick said he expected Sinner to win his third Grand Slam last year and then potentially be banned by CAS for six months or a year.

Top seed Sinner will defend his title against Chilean Nicolas Jarry, who serves big. Sinner leads the way in the top half of the draw, while rivals Carlos Alcaraz and ten-time AO champion Novak Djokovic are in the same third quarter in the bottom half of the draw.

“Jannik Sinner is the favorite in the men's race and I think he will win.” Roddick told Betway. “Will he dominate this year like he did in 2024?

“There's a cloud hanging over him with the WADA case, so it's very possible that this is the last we'll see of him for six months or a year. A lot depends on how his case turns out, but I do think he's The best hard court player in the world.

“After more than a decade of hard work, he has taken that title away from Novak Djokovic. I think Sinner is Australia's top contender and I certainly wouldn't bet against him losing.”

Alcaraz, the defending champion at Roland Garros and Wimbledon, has lost three of his six games in 2024.

Former US Open champion Roddick says consistency will be key for the Spanish superstar heading into Oz.

“Carlos Alcaraz is his closest rival but everyone knows he needs to find more consistency and he's not saying anything different,” Roddick told Betway. “He wins two majors in 2024, which is crazy. We know his top level is probably the best in the world. He's won every match against Sinner in sanctioned events, but the consistency is the problem.

“But I listened to him speak at an event in Charlotte, where I live, and he quickly ignored the two majors and spent a lot of time talking about how he wanted to be more consistent. To me Say, I’m thinking: “Okay, you’ve had a better year in five weeks than I have in my entire career! “I think he's very focused on where he can improve and I think that makes him even more impressive.