Andy Roddick has been speaking about who he thinks the most consistent player in tennis is at the moment.
The American, who retired from the sport in 2012, has recently started his own podcast.
On it he seems to be covering all the big tennis topics as and when they arise whilst also giving an insight into what it takes to be a top-level athlete, sharing his own experiences.
But who did he claim was the most bankable star in the game at the moment? We take a closer look…
Who did Andy Roddick say was tennis’ most consistent player?
Whilst it might be easy for one to lean towards Novak Djokovic for this title, given he is the greatest of all time and still at the top level despite his age, there are other contenders.
Especially in the WTA, where the elite-level players do boast a monopoly over the game at the moment.
It is in the women’s game where Roddick actually seeks to find his answer, actually snubbing the world number one Iga Swiatek in favour of another.
He told the Andy Roddick Podcast: ‘Swiatek feels like the safest player, but you look back at the results, and now I don’t know that that’s true.
‘6 Major Semifinals in a row for Sabalenka. She is always there. I let past reputation get in the way of what was right in front of my eyeballs. Sabalenka is the most consistent player in the world right now and I don’t think it’s up for debate at this point.
‘I think Swiatek is able to put a lot of points on the board, in clusters, she probably has the best upside where she goes through people & wins World Tour Finals 0 and 1.
‘When she gets on a roll, the confidence comes in bunches. But she’s susceptible, as she’s proven, early on in these events. Sabalenka is the most bankable player on Earth right now.’
Aryna Sabalenka deserves her flowers
Realistically, this is not a particularly controversial opinion given the immense consistency that Sabalenka has found in recent years.
Her immense physique instantly gives her the edge over most others on the tour, but it once seemed like her inability to sort out the mental side of her game would forever plague the 25-year-old.
So often from her side of the court would come fierce roars detailing her internal frustration and inability to find her rhythm as matches slipped away from her.
Surrendering the US Open final to Coco Gauff just last year was indicative of this, even if the 19-year-old mounted an exceptional comeback.
However, having since turned it around, the ease with which she claimed the Australian Open title was further indicative of her skillset, and the dominance she could soon hold over the sport as a whole.
She even garnered praise from Ana Ivanovic for that run too.
Should she maintain this elite mindset she has formed, only she knows how many majors she can claim.
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