Boris Becker ‘has questions’ about French Open ace and disagrees with Roddick

31 May 2024 , 14:08

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Andy Roddick has given his prediction on who he thinks will win the French Open (Image: (Image: Getty))

Boris Becker admitted he is not fully convinced by Jannik Sinner's clay court game after Andy Roddick tipped the Italian to win the French Open.

Last year, the Australian Open winner was knocked out of Roland Garros in a gruelling, five-set clash against Daniel Altmaier. The German came back from a set down twice and saved two match points in the fourth set to secure a 6-7(0) 7-6(7) 1-6 7-6(4) 7-5 victory.

Sinner has been in extraordinary form, but he is yet to win a major clay court competition. He has started his 2024 French Open campaign well with victories over Christopher Eubanks and Richard Gasquet in Paris.

His ability has been enough to convince former World No.1 Roddick that he will reach the final and beat Carlos Alcaraz to win his second Grand Slam.

On his podcast, 'Served with Andy Roddick,' the 41-year-old was adamant in his prediction: "I'm going Sinner beats Carlos Alcaraz, Sinner wins the French Open."

Prison made me stronger after hardest year of my life, says Boris Becker

However, Becker, who reached three French Open semi-finals during his career, is still hesitant about Sinner's potential on clay. Speaking with Tennis365, Becker commented: "Overall, clay for the moment anyway, is not his best surface. Hard courts, indoors and grass... yes he is a big threat on those surfaces.

"On the clay, he has not won a big tournament yet. You look at last year at Roland Garros and Sinner had a second round loss against Daniel Altmaier in five sets and we don't know how fit he is right now," reports the Express.

Becker is yet to be convinced ((Image: Getty))

"In best-of-five-set matches over two weeks, there are no shortcuts. You don't win matches easily and quickly by serving 25 aces. So it will be tough for him. If he is fit, maybe he has a chance, but we have some questions around Sinner right now."

When asked about Sinner's fitness again, Becker said: "He is a smart young man and he is surrounded by smart people, so I'm sure he wouldn't play at Roland Garros if he wasn't fit enough. It would be good to know exactly what the injury is and then we could have a better idea what he is dealing with.

"But a player will never say what the injury is as it can give their opponent an advantage. Overall, I feel Sinner is a great player and he has had a great year, but maybe he is not in his best moment on clay and we have to wait and see how he performs."

Sinner was knocked out in the second round last year ((Image: Getty))

Becker's words were cutting, but they did not come close to the harsh words of John McEnroe last year, shortly after Sinner's early exit. "I mean, Sinner had it on his racquet, match point and then blew it and lost the fourth set," McEnroe said.

"And then you're thinking, 'Well he's still going to win it? ' But he gets down, and then it looks over, he's saved for four or five match points, breaks for god's sake at 5-4 and then loses his serve, and then looks like he's going to break again. Those matches are the ones that stay with you for months if not years. I mean, those are tough to get over."

Following Sinner's loss to Altmaier after missing two match points, a forthright McEnroe stated: "He choked. You tell me. Let's go to Eurosport.com and all you fans watching can decide whether he should have won this point. Come on, that should have been over."

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Patrick Austen-Hardy