As the tennis world turns its attention to the grass courts of Wimbledon, set to begin on June 30, 2025, former world No. 1 Andy Roddick has sparked excitement with his bold prediction for the women’s singles title. On his *Served with Andy Roddick* podcast, the 2003 US Open champion named Aryna Sabalenka as the “clear-cut” favorite to claim her first Wimbledon crown, placing her ahead of Coco Gauff, the recent French Open champion. Roddick’s analysis, joined by tennis journalist Jon Wertheim, highlighted Sabalenka’s explosive game as ideally suited for grass, while acknowledging Gauff’s tenacity and potential to challenge. “Her game and her athleticism, that translates,” Roddick said of Sabalenka, emphasizing her edge despite Gauff’s recent triumph over her in Paris. With both players set to compete at the WTA 500 Berlin Open starting June 16, their rivalry promises to electrify the grass season.
Sabalenka, the world No. 1, and Gauff, ranked No. 2, delivered a thrilling spectacle in the 2025 French Open final, where Gauff prevailed 6-7(5), 6-2, 6-4 to claim her second Grand Slam title. The match showcased their contrasting styles—Sabalenka’s raw power against Gauff’s relentless defense and speed. Despite Sabalenka’s 70 unforced errors, her ability to dictate play with aggressive ball-striking left an impression. “Sabalenka on grass, bear in mind there was that silly Russia/Belarusian ban, and last year she didn’t play a match, she was injured, she can play on grass, she can play really well,” Wertheim noted, referencing Sabalenka’s absence from Wimbledon 2024 due to a shoulder injury and the 2022 ban. Her two semifinal appearances at the All England Club in 2021 and 2023, both decided in tight third sets, underline her grass-court prowess, despite a 16-6 record matching Gauff’s Wimbledon win percentage.
Gauff, at 21, has yet to reach a Wimbledon quarterfinal in five attempts, a surprising contrast to her clay and hard-court success. Her 2023 US Open win over Sabalenka and recent Roland Garros triumph have narrowed their head-to-head to 6-5 in Gauff’s favor, but Roddick sees her grass game as a work in progress. “I’m just telling you that there’s a lot that goes right for Coco as soon as she steps on a clay court. She’s amazing, but that doesn’t mean her spaces where she needs to work change immediately,” he said. Gauff’s second serve, a noted vulnerability, held up in Paris, winning 50% of those points against Sabalenka’s punishing returns. “You tell us that going in against Sabalenka, who just crushes second serve returns, that’s a big number for her,” Roddick added, praising Gauff’s resilience but favoring Sabalenka’s consistency on faster surfaces.
Wertheim’s top three picks for Wimbledon—Sabalenka, Gauff, and Madison Keys—reflect the depth in women’s tennis, with Elena Rybakina also a strong contender. “Rybakina is going to be on the shortlist, Madi is going to be on the shortlist,” Roddick agreed, noting Keys’ recent form and Rybakina’s 2022 Wimbledon title. Sabalenka’s 2025 season, highlighted by Australian Open and US Open titles, plus victories in Brisbane, Cincinnati, and Wuhan, positions her as the player to beat. Her fitness improvements, as Roddick emphasized, have been underappreciated: “I don’t think we give her enough credit for the fitness leaps that she’s made in the last couple of years.” Gauff, meanwhile, has surged since her 2024 struggles, winning the WTA Finals and United Cup, including two victories over Iga Swiatek, boosting her confidence for the grass swing.
The Berlin Open, where both players are entered alongside Jessica Pegula and Jasmine Paolini, offers a critical warm-up. Sabalenka’s powerful groundstrokes thrive in the high-altitude conditions of faster courts, while Gauff’s ability to “turn any match into a fight,” as Roddick put it, makes her a dangerous underdog. “Coco has to be better than her for two hours, and she’s done it before,” he noted, referencing their competitive Grand Slam encounters. Sabalenka’s post-French Open comments, suggesting Swiatek might have beaten Gauff, drew criticism, but she later apologized on Instagram: “Coco handled the conditions much better than I did and fully deserved the win.” Roddick defended her sportsmanship, calling her “still classy” for acknowledging Gauff during the ceremony despite her visible devastation.
As Wimbledon looms, the Sabalenka-Gauff rivalry promises to captivate. Sabalenka’s quest for a first grass-court major, backed by her 2024 year-end No. 1 ranking, contrasts with Gauff’s hunger to conquer new surfaces. With Roddick’s endorsement and a favorable draw as top seeds, Sabalenka holds the edge, but Gauff’s knack for rising to the occasion ensures this battle is far from decided.
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