Roddick admires how Djokovic overcomes difficulties

"I have never seen anyone as physically advanced as Djokovic," Roddick said in an article for Betway on August 9. "I played Djokovic at the time he was starting to emerge and often tried to drag him into endurance balls. To play with him now is suicide because Djokovic is too flexible."

Roddick has played Djokovic nine times and won five. The matches between them mainly took place before Nole became world number one. In particular, in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open 2009, Djokovic suffered a heat stroke and had to give up because of exhaustion early in the fourth set.

"At the beginning of his career, Djokovic was quite weak physically as well as mentally," commented Roddick. "But then he applied physical improvement methods, from training to dieting. Djokovic also sought psychological therapy and always showed great professionalism. Now physically, mentally are all the same. is Djokovic's strong point."

Roddick believes that it is not until Djokovic wins his 23rd Grand Slam to confirm that the Serbian player is a great figure in tennis history. The American tennis player is famous for his saying praising Nole's stubbornness: "First Djokovic takes your legs, then he will take your soul". The 2003 US Open champion also admired the way Djokovic has handled personal crises off the court in recent years.

Roddick retired early in 2012 at the age of 30 due to various injuries. He therefore admits that what the "Big 3" group achieved at the age of 40 is extraordinary.

"I was shocked when I watched Alcaraz beat Djokovic at Wimbledon last year," Roddick added. "I don't think anyone can beat Djokovic on grass. Boys like Alcaraz normally take a couple of years to play well on grass. Alcaraz is a special case. He looks like he's been playing there for 10 years." .

Roddick doesn't believe there is another "Big 3" era in tennis. He thinks Alcaraz can have the upper hand in the coming years and close his career with a double-digit Grand Slam.