Carlos Alcaraz edged past his long-time rival Jannik Sinner in a playful, sold-out exhibition match in South Korea on Saturday as both stars fine-tuned preparations for the Australian Open.
With eight days remaining before the Melbourne Grand Slam and marking their first outings of the year, the Spanish world number one claimed a 7-5, 7-6 (8/6) victory in front of a lively crowd of 12,000 fans in Incheon.
Despite the competitive scoreline, the atmosphere was relaxed as neither player will feature in another match before the Australian Open, where Italy’s world number two Sinner returns as the defending two-time champion.
Organisers in South Korea did not disclose appearance fees, but Italian media reports suggest both players may have earned more than $2 million each for the one-hour, 47-minute encounter.
The exhibition was far from strictly business, with both players smiling throughout and delighting spectators with between-the-legs trick shots that drew loud applause. They also responded to crowd calls by forming heart signs with their hands, further lightening the mood.
“Jannik, we finished the season playing together. We started the season playing together,” Alcaraz said during his on-court remarks after the match.
“So hopefully this season is going to be such a good one like last year. You deserve the best.”
Over the past two seasons, Alcaraz and Sinner have firmly established their dominance in men’s tennis, sharing all four Grand Slam trophies between them across 2024 and 2025. Despite the friendly setting, Sinner admitted there was still an edge to the contest.
“It was a close match, so a little bit of tension also,” said Sinner.
“We were just happy to be here for the first time, seeing something new. It made us feel at home, and we felt it on the court.”
While fierce rivals when points are on the line, the pair maintain a strong friendship away from competition. Alcaraz entered the exhibition holding the advantage in their rivalry, with a 10-6 head-to-head record, and reinforced that edge with Saturday’s win.
Both players are widely expected to headline the Australian Open when it begins in Melbourne on January 18, where expectations will rise sharply as competitive tennis resumes.
Alcaraz, now 22 and two years younger than Sinner, will be chasing a milestone at the season’s opening major. The Australian Open remains the only Grand Slam he has yet to win and the only one where he has never progressed beyond the quarter-finals.
What you should know
Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have emerged as the defining rivalry in men’s tennis, dominating the sport over the last two seasons by sharing all major titles.
This exhibition match in South Korea served as a high-profile warm-up rather than a true test, blending entertainment with sharp competition.
As the Australian Open approaches, Sinner will aim to defend his crown, while Alcaraz seeks to conquer the one Grand Slam that has so far eluded him, adding extra intrigue to the season’s first major.
