“I worry about him zero over the long term, but if it’s just the small sample size of Rome…a small sample size can tell many stories,” said Roddick, a former world No. 1. “I’m not worried with how he hits the ball. I’m not worried about his movement. I thought he actually looked great on the clay last year. We kind of forget he was a set away from beating Carlos Alcaraz in the semis of Roland Garros last year. So, I think he’ll be fine longterm.
“Will he have jitters in Rome in front of the home crowd? Remember, he didn’t get to play in Rome last year either. So, since he’s become the Jannik Sinner, the legend, Grand Slam-winning No. 1 Jannik Sinner, he hasn’t played Rome, so there’s obviously going to be jitters.”
Vandeweghe echoed Roddick’s sentiments, citing Sinner’s appearance and subsequent practices at the Rolex Monte Carlo Masters.
“I think that’s the best thing for him, is playing in Rome, in his home country. He will only have positive vibes out there because there is going to be that negative connotation because of the doping ban, the reasons behind it and all of the hoopla that came with it. But I do love that he has been around tournaments; he came to Monte Carlo to be able to practice a little bit. So, he’s starting to get the buzz and the energy of being back on tour life. That’s the thing that’s always the trickiest, feeling those nerves and getting through them. If you’re around it enough and you’re practicing in the venues, I think that will settle him a lot more.”
