Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz tease doubles partnership ahead of Incheon exhibition match
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Italy's Jannik Sinner (in black) playing table tennis with Carlos Alcaraz (in white) of Spain, during a welcome event in Seoul on Jan 9 for their tennis exhibition match the following day.
PHOTO: AFP
SEOUL – As Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner prepare for their season-opening exhibition match in Incheon, the world’s top two men’s tennis players floated the prospect of one day playing together in a doubles tournament.
The pair, who have won nine of the last 10 Grand Slam titles between them, will meet in the Hyundai Card Super Match at the Inspire Arena on Jan 10, eight days before the Australian Open begins at Melbourne Park.
“It was once or twice we thought about it,” world No. 1 Alcaraz of Spain told a press conference on Jan 9, which was followed by a playful table tennis session with second-ranked Sinner in front of hundreds of fans.
“But being singles players and playing so many matches, tournament after tournament in a row, it’s really difficult to play doubles sometimes.
“At least once would be fine. But I think I play forehand and he (Sinner) plays backhand.”
Sinner also embraced the idea.
“I think it would be fun at least one time to share the court in different ways, on the same side,” said the 24-year-old Italian.
“We are going to talk about it maybe this year. Or next year, why not? It’s going to be a surprise!”
The duo, dubbed “Sincaraz”, have helped usher men’s tennis into a new era beyond the “Big Three” of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.
“We have a great rivalry. We also need to see how long we can keep up this level. What the ‘Big Three’ has done, we cannot compare ourselves with them. We also don’t want to. We are just ourselves,” added Sinner.
“We want to make our own story. It’s how everything should be. In sport, we should not compare so much because everyone is different. I’m happy to be part of this two at the moment.
“There are many great other players and if we drop just a little bit, they’re going to take our place. It’s great to have him to push me to the limit.”
He stressed that their performances in South Korea would not be a true indicator of how he and his 22-year-old rival will fare at the opening Grand Slam of the year in Melbourne.
The Italian added: “We are here to make hopefully a good match, but also to put a smile on as many people as possible.”
Meanwhile, women’s world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka sent a warning ahead of the Australian Open as she beat Madison Keys on Jan 9.
Keys stunned Sabalenka in the Australian Open final nearly 12 months ago
Keys was playing less than 24 hours after her marathon three-hour win over Russia’s Diana Shnaider and had heavy strapping on her thigh.
She turned in an uncharacteristically error-strewn performance and struggled on serve as Sabalenka struck a series of superb returns.
Sabalenka, aiming for her third Melbourne title in four years when the Australian Open begins on Jan 18, said the Brisbane tournament was helping her find form ahead of the first Major of the year.
“I’m just trying to bring on court things I have been working on in the pre-season, such as coming to the net,” she said. “I was working on my serve and it seems that it’s working a little bit better.”
Sabalenka will play Czech surprise package Karolina Muchova in the last four on Jan 10 after the 11th seed held her nerve to see off world No. 5 Elena Rybakina 6-2, 2-6, 6-4.
Muchova has won her last three matches against Sabalenka, although the last was in 2024 at the China Open.
The other semi-final pits world No. 6 Jessica Pegula of the United States against Ukraine’s 26th-ranked Marta Kostyuk after they each overcame Russian opponents. Pegula beat 17th-ranked Liudmila Samsonova 6-3, 7-6 (7-3) and Kostyuk defeated world No. 9 Mirra Andreeva 7-6 (9-7), 6-3.
In Sydney, women’s world No. 2 Iga Swiatek helped Poland beat Australia 2-1 to secure a United Cup semi-final spot against defending champions United States.
Swiatek cruised to a 6-1, 6-1 win over 19-year-old Maya Joint in the women’s singles, but Alex de Minaur levelled the tie with a 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 win over Hubert Hurkacz.
Jan Zielinski and Katarzyna Kawa’s 6-4, 6-0 win over John-Patrick Smith and Storm Hunter in the mixed doubles sealed the Poles’ semi-final spot for the fourth consecutive year.
Meanwhile, Nick Kyrgios said he will play only doubles at the Australian Open, adding that he was not ready for singles matches after making his comeback from an injury-ravaged three years.
“I’m fit and back on court but five-setters are a different beast and I’m not quite ready to go the distance yet,” said the 30-year-old, who will pair up with fellow Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis.
This means the final three men’s wild cards went to three-time Grand Slam winner Stan Wawrinka, who is playing his last season before retiring, and Australians Jordan Thompson and Chris O’Connell.
Separately, Tennis Kenya on Jan 8 said the controversial wild card granted to Hajar Abdelkader should not have happened after the Egyptian’s performance at a professional tournament in Nairobi went viral.
The 21-year-old won just three points on her way to a 6-0, 6-0 defeat by German world No. 1,026 Lorena Schaedel. Videos shared on social media showed the Egyptian struggling to serve and position herself on the court. REUTERS, AFP
