The victor of the 2003 US Open believes that Sinner is the frontrunner to clinch the year-end No. 1 spot for 2024, especially considering Djokovic’s inconsistent tournament schedule. However, he notes that clay presents the most formidable challenge for the Italian player.
Djokovic’s participation in ATP tournaments in 2024 has been limited, with only two prior to the Monte Carlo Masters this week, in addition to his involvement in the United Cup team event. Despite being a three-time French Open champion and the defending Roland Garros titleholder, the 36-year-old Serbian has faced setbacks with early exits at the Australian Open and Indian Wells Open this year.
In contrast, Alcaraz, who secured his first title in eight months at Indian Wells last month, aims to capture his inaugural French Open victory alongside his previous successes at the US Open and Wimbledon. The 20-year-old Spaniard, boasting seven clay-court titles, reached the semi-finals at Roland Garros last year and the quarter-finals in 2022.
Sinner’s exceptional form since the 2023 US Open includes three titles in 2024, notably claiming his first major at the Australian Open. Although his sole clay-court title to date was at the 2022 Croatia Open in Umag, he achieved his best French Open result in 2020, reaching the quarter-finals.
Roddick, a former world No. 1, praises Sinner’s remarkable performance and dominant victory at the Miami Open, while evaluating the leading contenders for the upcoming clay season. He emphasizes Sinner’s recent rise to world No. 2 and the likelihood of him finishing the year as No. 1 due to Djokovic’s inconsistent tournament appearances.
However, Roddick cautions that clay might pose challenges for Sinner, given his style of play. Despite Sinner’s prowess from the baseline, this strength could be hindered by the clay surface, potentially affecting his performance at Roland Garros. Nevertheless, Roddick expresses confidence in Djokovic’s abilities and praises Alcaraz’s potential on clay courts, foreseeing multiple French Open triumphs for the young Spaniard. He also mentions Zverev as a strong contender on clay, despite being overlooked in discussions often dominated by a select few players.
