Not too long ago, tennis was seen as more of a hobby than a sport — an elitist pursuit for the privileged few. That reputation was reinforced by the belief that tennis players weren’t as athletic as basketball or football players, who endure a physical toll on a nightly basis.

The arrival of explosive athletes like Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams helped change that perception. Skeptics began to recognize that although tennis lacks physical contact, it subjects players to a test of endurance and mental resilience that epitomizes the highest level of competition.

Look no further than the events at Court Philippe-Chatrier this past Sunday. Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner battled for five hours and 29 minutes, marking the longest French Open final ever and the fifth-longest match at any major in the Open Era.  

That marathon of a match prompted former World No. 1 Andy Roddick to make a tall claim on his podcast. 

“I think tennis players are the best athletes in the world,” he declared. “Five hours and 40-something minutes on the biggest stages, you compare this to other sports — an NBA game is 48 minutes played in air conditioning, where you have teammates, halftime and timeouts. To say one thing doesn’t mean you’re throwing shade at someone else. I’m celebrating and applauding one set of athletes. [Tennis] is the most complete examination of an athlete that I can think of.”