(VIDEO) "I 1000% fully disagree": Andy Roddick weighs in on Stefanos Tsitsipas' withdrawal and Grand Slam vs ATP Finals claims

Andy Roddick has weighed in on Stefanos Tsitsipas' claims that the ATP Finals are more important than a Grand Slam, while also sharing his thoughts on the player's retirement from his recent match at the 2023 ATP Finals.

Tsitsipas qualified for the ATP Finals for the fifth consecutive year in 2023, and he made it clear how much the tournament meant to him: "It means a lot. I would consider it probably a bigger thing than a Slam, honestly," said the Greek player, who won the event in 2019. However, prior to the start of the tournament, there were reports that Tsitsipas was struggling with injuries.

The 25-year-old played his first Group Stage match against Jannik Sinner, losing in straight sets. He then went on to face Holger Rune, but retired from the clash after just three games, citing a back injury. This led to an outcry from the crowd, who booed him off court, while several took to social media to speculate about why he didn't withdraw from the match beforehand.

Read also

"He is doing it not for himself but for tennis and journalists": Bjorn Borg believes Novak Djokovic has different motivation for continuing career

Roddick labels Tsitsipas' comparison "ridiculous"

2003 US Open champion Roddick recently shared his thoughts on the issue of Tsitsipas' withdrawal, relating his opinion to his disagreement with the World No. 6's claims that the Finals were bigger than a Slam. The 41-year-old said that Tsitsipas should have prioritized his health ahead of the Australian Open in January 2024.

"My opinion is that, if your elbow is beat up, if your back is beat up and you're down a match already, you've got to start thinking about January. Listen, he made the finals in Australia last year, he's always played well down there. So if I'm in his team I'm going, 'Listen is the juice worth the squeeze for this tournament especially as we look forward to next year.' I probably would've leaned towards no, we've got to make sure we're healthy," he said on Tennis Channel. 

"I know he said something ridiculous this week about how this is bigger than a Slam if you win it. I 1000% fully disagree and I don't even think he believes what he said but I would've had an eye on next year, especially if you're nursing multiple injuries.

Read also

(VIDEO) Major upset in Turin as Stefanos Tsitsipas forced to retire from Holger Rune tie and 2023 ATP Finals

"And then if you kind of sweeten the pot with, 'Listen if I don't play it gives someone else on tour, that I have to see throughout the year, a look at the basket and to be able to get in.' You want his team to kind of be able to speak up there maybe a little bit louder," he added.

Tsitsipas' withdrawal from the tournament means that first alternate Hubert Hurkacz will play against Novak Djokovic in the last tie of the Green Group, while Holger Rune will play Jannik Sinner as the three players battle it out for a spot in the semi-finals.

Tennis Channel

@TennisChannel

·Follow

Should Tsitsipas have played today? @AndyRoddick and Jim Courier weigh in. @Steve_Weissman | #TCLive

Watch on Twitter

51

Reply

Copy link

Read 12 replies

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Unlock your ultimate tennis experience—subscribe today for exclusive access to top stories.

Subscribe