Andy Roddick thinks Jannik Sinner is the overwhelming favourite to win the US Open, even if Carlos Alcaraz plays.
Alcaraz has not played since injuring his wrist at the Barcelona Open in April, but he has been hard at work behind the scenes in a bid to return to tennis.
The Spaniard recently shared footage of his training sessions on social media, where he practiced using a racket both with and without strings.
Former world number one Roddick, who won the US Open in 2003, has now previewed the tournament amid Alcaraz’s injury and immediately after Sinner won Wimbledon.
Which member of the ‘Big Three’ is Carlos Alcaraz most similar to? Let us know why below👇
Andy Roddick assesses Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz at the US Open
Reacting to Sinner successfully defending his title at the All England Club, Roddick said on his Served podcast: “We miss Carlos Alcaraz.
“We want the foil. Hopefully he is better. There is a release where he has a hole in his racket swinging through things and hitting lightly.
“When he goes out of Barcelona and finishes the match, I don’t know that I would have been saying he is not hitting balls yet by July.
“We hope for a speedy recovery. He means so much to this game. The Sinner story is just better with Alcaraz in the mix.
“Sinner still has to be an overwhelming favourite in New York even if Alcaraz comes back. Are the legs there?
“You need match reps. It’s not as if he re-enters the building and all of a sudden he is the best version of Carlos Alcaraz.”
Having already missed the likes of the French Open and Wimbledon because of injury, Alcaraz is targeting a return at the Cincinnati Open.
What happened at the 2025 US Open?
Very fittingly, it was ATP superstars Alcaraz and Sinner who reached the final of the US Open in New York last year.
And it was the Spanish superstar who emerged victorious, overcoming his Italian rival 6-2, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 after two hours and 42 minutes.
Not only that match, but their epic rivalry in general, is a big reminder of just how much tennis needs Alcaraz.
| Year | Winner | Tournament | Round | Surface | Score |
| 2026 | Sinner | ATP Masters 1000 Monte-Carlo | Final | Outdoor Clay | 76(5) 63 |
| 2025 | Sinner | Nitto ATP Finals | Final | Indoor Hard | 76(4) 75 |
| 2025 | Alcaraz | US Open | Final | Outdoor Hard | 62 36 61 64 |
| 2025 | Alcaraz | ATP Masters 1000 Cincinnati | Final | Outdoor Hard | 50 RET |
| 2025 | Sinner | Wimbledon | Final | Outdoor Grass | 46 64 64 64 |
| 2025 | Alcaraz | Roland Garros | Final | Outdoor Clay | 46 67(4) 64 76(3) 76(2) |
| 2025 | Alcaraz | ATP Masters 1000 Rome | Final | Outdoor Clay | 76(5) 61 |
| 2024 | Alcaraz | Beijing | Final | Outdoor Hard | 67(6) 64 76(3) |
| 2024 | Alcaraz | Roland Garros | Semifinal | Outdoor Clay | 26 63 36 64 63 |
| 2024 | Alcaraz | ATP Masters 1000 Indian Wells | Semifinal | Outdoor Hard | 16 63 62 |
| 2023 | Sinner | Beijing | Semifinal | Outdoor Hard | 76(4) 61 |
| 2023 | Sinner | ATP Masters 1000 Miami | Semifinal | Outdoor Hard | 67(4) 64 62 |
| 2023 | Alcaraz | ATP Masters 1000 Indian Wells | Semifinal | Outdoor Hard | 76(4) 63 |
| 2022 | Alcaraz | US Open | Quarterfinal | Outdoor Hard | 63 67(7) 67(0) 75 63 |
| 2022 | Sinner | Umag | Final | Outdoor Clay | 67(5) 61 61 |
| 2022 | Sinner | Wimbledon | Round of 16 | Outdoor Grass | 61 64 67(8) 63 |
| 2021 | Alcaraz | ATP Masters 1000 Paris | Round of 32 | Indoor Hard | 76(1) 75 |
Hopefully the seven-time Grand Slam champion does indeed return in time for the US Open, but going all the way certainly won’t be at the forefront of his mind.
And not only could that scenario pave the way for Sinner to claim another major title, but it could also benefit the likes of Alexander Zverev and Novak Djokovic
