Andy Roddick claims Jannik Sinner has ‘stolen’ one shot from Carlos Alcaraz after winning the ATP Finals

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Jannik Sinner won the ATP Finals beating Taylor Fritz in the final, whilst Carlos Alcaraz failed to qualify for the semi-finals.

Sinner had a career-best year in 2024, taking home two Grand Slam titles and the ATP Finals, all whilst reaching world number one.

The Italian won the Australian Open at the beginning of the season before Sinner won the US Open final against Taylor Fritz in September.

History repeated itself in November, as Sinner beat Fritz at the ATP Finals to cap off an unbelievable season.

In any other year, you would likely say that Sinner had been ‘dominant’ in 2024, but a certain Spaniard prevented that from being the case.

Alcaraz matched Sinner with two Grand Slam titles won this year, with wins at the French Open and Wimbledon.

Sinner did however grow apart from Alcaraz at the top of the ATP rankings this season, something that one tennis legend believes could be down to a specific shot.

Andy Roddick on the shot Jannik Sinner has ‘stolen’ from Carlos Alcaraz

Speaking on his podcast following Sinner’s victorious ATP Finals campaign, Andy Roddick explained how the Italian has improved by taking one of Alcaraz’s best shots.

“His ability to create speed with margin is absurd, his ability to get out of the corners is absurd,” he said.

“He had a career-high in aces for a three-set match in the finals, he’s serving better, he’s improving in real time.

“Hitting chips, hitting drop shots, he’s stolen a page out of the Chuckster’s [Carlos Alcaraz] playbook, with hitting that dropper.”

Prior to the ATP Finals, Sinner told Alcaraz that he would love to take his drop shots, something that he put to good use in Turin.

Roddick went on to reveal what Sinner’s dominant performances in Turin reminded him of.

“[Jannik] Sinner was a joke, in the best possible way,” said the 2003 US Open champion.

“Checking his score lines, it’s the score lines that you used to drop on people when you were 16 playing in your state tournaments if you were a really good junior.

“But if you take that out and expand it to the best on earth with no two-year age groups.

“What he’s done on hard courts this year is absurd.

“He lost the fewest games ever to win the tournament, broke the record held by one Roger Federer.

“Dominant start to finish.”

Does Jannik Sinner have a better drop shot than Carlos Alcaraz?

Alcaraz’s rise to prominence on the ATP Tour saw fans thrilled by his all-action style.

Drop-shots were a key part of that, as the Spaniard was seemingly able to win points that others could only dream of.

But with Sinner’s brilliant use of the shot in Turin, is Alcaraz really that much better than the Italian at the drop shot?

The data shows that there isn’t too much separating the pair when it comes to drop-shots.

Sinner has a marginally higher winner %, whilst the Spaniard makes less unforced errors.

Watching the two play, many would still consider Alcaraz to be the best at the shot in tennis today, but Sinner may not be too far behind in reality.

Sinner and Alcaraz will return to action at this week’s Davis Cup, with Spain taking on the Netherlands on Tuesday, whilst Italy face Argentina on Thursday.