Andy Roddick has been keeping a close eye on the action at the Italian Open.
The Masters 1000 tournament has produced some interesting results at the Foro Italico as the players aim to peak in time for the upcoming French Open.
Furthermore, this has been a significant event due to the return of Jannik Sinner, who is playing his first event in three months following a doping ban.
Carlos Alcaraz is also back in action after missing the Madrid Open due to injury, and both players are searching for their first Italian Open title.
Andy Roddick says which player has impressed him most at the Italian Open
The Italian Open marks the final Masters 1000 event of the season played on clay. It is also the final tournament played at this level before Roland Garros gets underway on May 25.
The Italian Open is an important tournament for some players to either gain, form, fitness, or confidence in their respective games.
The likes of Sinner, Alcaraz and defending champion Alexander Zverev fall into these categories, and each of them still have a chance of winning the title.
Each player has produced some solid displays so far, but Andy Roddick has been most impressed with Sinner in his first tournament back.
“I think Sinner. We were coming in as a three month lay off. We all have a bunch of questions. He has not lost a set,” Roddick told Tennis Channel live. “We know what Alcaraz is bringing.
“We had the sample size of Monte Carlo and Barcelona. I still think he is the favourite at Roland Garros. Zverev, it looks like this is the tournament which is going to turn the last two or three months around.
“But Sinner coming in off two or three months of no playing, to play the match he did against Cerundolo, giving up one break back and having to grind through that last game, this is exactly what the doctor ordered for Jannik Sinner.”
Jim Courier says what Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner and Alexander Zverev need from the Italian Open
Jim Courier joined Roddick on Tennis Channel to discuss the Italian Open.
He also discussed Sinner, Alcaraz and Zverev, and what the objectives are for each player with the French Open on the horizon.
“They are all getting exactly what they needed from this tournament so far,” Courier said. “For Sinner, he needs competition and to feel like things are normalising in his life again.
“What does Alcaraz need? He needs the confidence that his body can hold after falling apart at the end of that match in Barcelona against Holger Rune.
“What does Zverev need? He needs to trust himself again. He has lost a little bit of confidence. Yes, he won in Munich but he has not been playing to the standard that he has set since he left Australia.
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