Andy Roddick tells tennis fans what they must 'watch out' for from Jannik Sinner early on against Carlos Alcaraz in Italian Open final

Jannik Sinner’s win over Tommy Paul last night set up the Italian Open final that almost everybody wanted, as he will now face Carlos Alcaraz for the title.

It’s a match-up that we have not seen for some time now, mainly due to Sinner’s three-month ban from tennis served immediately after the Australian Open.

But he is back now and has blasted his way back into a grand final.

However, Andy Roddick thinks he should be observed carefully on Sunday after what he heard last night.

Andy Roddick previews Italian Open final between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner

Speaking on Tennis Channel Live ahead of Sunday’s blockbuster final, Roddick admitted that he will be watching a few developments with interest.

He noted: ‘The funny thing is when you see the stats from Alcaraz, at different points of the year, we have been concerned about him. Maybe after Australia or maybe he takes a loss to Goffin in Miami and we start the question meter.

Photo by Tullio Puglia/Getty Images

‘Then you look at the graphics and he is winning six matches for every one that he loses and you are going “What standard are we comparing him to?”

‘I don’t think the question on clay has ever been about where his form is at, he has proven that he is the best clay courter in the world over the last couple of years, it’s just a matter of health.

‘I will keep an eye – Sinner in that third set it looked like he was managing his movement a little bit. I think that is something to watch out for early days on Sunday.

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Roddick also then sought to look ahead to Jannik Sinner’s French Open aspirations, potentially warning the world number one to do the same: ’Also, if you are Sinner, and there is anything wrong and we don’t know that there is yet, it’s just the eye test, he was pulling up on some of the movement.

‘If he is feeling anything, you play it safe for Roland Garros.’

Sinner revealed an injury worry ahead of the final after his win over Paul.

Jannik Sinner’s head-to-head record vs Carlos Alcaraz

Sunday will be the 11th iteration of what is already shaping up to be a legendary rivalry that will span decades.

Clearly the top two players of their generation, this exceptional duo boast seven Grand Slams between them and seem poised to add many more to that across their illustrious careers.

Due to their shared success, almost all of their meetings have been in the latter stages of events: all of their last six matches were played in the semi-finals or finals of a competition.

Carlos Alcaraz vs Jannik Sinner, last 5 matches

Year Winner Event Round Surface 2024 Carlos Alcaraz Beijing Final Outdoor hard 2024 Carlos Alcaraz Roland Garros Semifinals Outdoor clay 2024 Carlos Alcaraz Indian Wells Semifinals Outdoor hard 2023 Jannik Sinner Beijing Semifinals Outdoor hard 2023 Jannik Sinner Miami Semifinals Outdoor hard

Carlos Alcaraz leads their head-to-head with six wins to Sinner’s four, although their most recent meeting came at the Six King’s Slam, where the latter came out on top.

As an unofficial clash, the Spaniard has therefore technically won their last three meetings, including the French Open semi-final, an event he went on to win, and the final in Beijing.

Sunday promises fireworks, and there’s little doubt that Sinner and Alcaraz will fail to deliver.

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