Jannik Sinner‘s 2024 season has been nothing less than a dream run. The World No.1 spot, two Grand Slam titles, ATP Finals trophy in Turin, and a historic title triumph at the Davis Cup. However, all of these achievements have taken a backseat due to the unwanted doping controversy. After a positive drug test in March, Jannik Sinner’s case was reopened by WADA in September, delaying the initial clearance from ITIA. Ahead of the final verdict in 2025, a former ATP pro, Andy Roddick, mapped out how Sinner should approach his game!

“I saw the news release for it’s like February 11 (CAS hearing),” Roddick began in an episode of his Served podcast, dated December 3rd. “I was like, can you this sh-t together and let this guy get some clarity? He’s in a situation, his people have put him in a situation. So, it’s not like I’m crying for Jannik Sinner, but if you make this big announcement in like late September that you’re going to go after him and then you drag your feet for another 6 months. It just comes off as completely unprofessional.” “Saying like the director going, ‘Well, you can bump into someone on the street and that could be contaminated’, like, they just look so unorganized and stupid frankly.”

According to Roddick’s previous statement, Sinner didn’t deliberately take the banned substance in his system. It was his physio who accidentally applied it onto his body through a contaminated cream. At this point, Andy got important advice: Jannik should not play any event once he’s done with the Australian Open in January 2025. Why?

It’s because “when you don’t play, you get credit for when you have not played,” said Roddick. He advised him to stop playing after the first major of next year, before the verdict comes out in late February. “He should not play Rotterdam, he should not play any of these events after Australia. Play Australia, stop. Stop playing until that 11th date.” The 2003 US Open winner further explained the suspension strategy.!

“You get two weeks of credit on a three-month suspension. You get to build. He should not be playing before that hearing after Australia. One month, nah, doesn’t really matter. Two months doesn’t really matter. Three months doesn’t really matter. Anything over three months, if he gets to six months, that’s brutal. Then all of a sudden, what are you cleared? Two weeks before the US Open, something like that. Six months is brutal. Six months is like, you’re screwing, that’s a big one,” he added.

Apart from giving helpful suggestions, however, Andy has also emerged as a strong support system for the Fox. Ahead of the verdict in the doping controversy, he’s not leaving any chance to defend the Italian.

Andy Roddick comes forward in defending Jannik Sinner in the doping scandal

In a previous episode of his podcast, Roddick tried to imply that Sinner didn’t take the banned substance deliberately. The former ATP pro said, “I can’t believe for the life of me that he’d risk his career for something with no benefit. That’s not just my opinion—that’s science, if we still trust it. If someone was going to dope, they’d go all in, especially someone with Sinner’s resources. It’s a crappy situation. Is he at fault? Maybe, but intent matters. It’s a shame for tennis.”

Roddick emphasized on Sinner’s dedication and commitment to tennis. And that a person like him can never think of choosing the path of doping whatsoever. Defending him further, and calling out those criticizing Sinner, he said, “When people demand patience for their own mistakes but rush to judge others, it shows a lack of grace. The ‘rules are rules’ crowd often overlooks precedents when it suits them. If fairness isn’t based on consistent precedents, then it’s not fairness at all.”

It seems like Roddick will keep supporting the Italian through thick and thin. Simply because he really admires him and his sheer talent. Now, it will be interesting to see what kind of verdict comes the Fox’s way next year. Do you think he will receive a ban in the doping case? Let us know in the comments below.