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Alcaraz Edges Sinner in Thrilling Exhibition Ahead of Australian Open

World number one Carlos Alcaraz secured a narrow victory over world number two Jannik Sinner in an exhibition match in Incheon. The intense clash saw Alcaraz win the first set 7-5 before clinching a tie-break in the second. The match served as a warm-up for both stars ahead of the 2026 Australian Open, though it carried no ranking points. Alcaraz and Sinner ended 2025 as the top two ranked players, each having won two Grand Slam titles during that season.

Key Points: Alcaraz vs Sinner: Exhibition Match Result & Grand Slam Stats

  • Alcaraz wins close exhibition
  • Match serves as Australian Open warm-up
  • Result doesn't affect official H2H
  • Both players are top two in ATP rankings
  • Each won two Grand Slams in 2025
2 min read

Carlos Alcaraz takes narrow win against Sinner in exhibition match

Carlos Alcaraz narrowly defeats Jannik Sinner in an Incheon exhibition. Preview of their rivalry and Grand Slam titles ahead of the 2026 Australian Open.

"Alcaraz held his nerves and took the first set from the Italian and Wimbledon 2025 champion, winning 7-5."

Incheon, January 10

World number one Carlos Alcaraz secured a narrow win over his arch-rival and world number two Jannik Sinner in an exhibition match in Incheon on Saturday. This was also their first meeting in 2026, with the Spaniard ultimately claiming the win.

The two tennis aces battled in a heated clash. Both stars exchanged point-for-point in the opening set. However, Alcaraz held his nerves and took the first set from the Italian and Wimbledon 2025 champion, winning 7-5.

The duo battled hard in the second set, which went much the same way as the first. Carlos and Sinner fight for each point, which ended up in a tie break. The two continued to battle it out, playing long rallies that ended with Sinner hitting the ball into the net and Alcaraz securing a thrilling win.

Notably, the exhibition match result will not count towards Alcaraz and Sinner's official head-to-head record and will offer zero points. However, the match between the two stars helped them warm up ahead of the 2026 Australian Open, which starts on 18 January.

According to ATP rankings, Carlos finished 2025 at the top in the men's singles rankings with 12,050 official points to his name. Sinner, who is 24 years old, is placed second with 11,500 points to his name.

At 22, the Spaniard Alcaraz now holds two French Open (Roland Garros) crowns (2024, 2025), two Wimbledon Championships (2023, 2024), and two US Open titles (2022, 2025).

At 24, Sinner has won four Grand Slam singles titles now. Sinner clinched the Australian Open (2024, 2025), the US Open (2024), and Wimbledon (2025). He's achieved this by 2025, becoming a dominant force in men's tennis alongside Alcaraz with multiple major wins in a short span, solidifying his place among the top players.

The 2025 Calendar year saw Sinner clinching two Slams: the Australian Open and Wimbledon, and Alcaraz countered with Roland Garros and the US Open, solidifying his place among the era's elite. Additonally, the Italian star Sinner won the Nitto ATP Finals to end his 2025 tour on a high note.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
As a tennis fan in India, I love this rivalry. It's like Federer-Nadal for a new generation. Sinner will be gutted to lose even an exhibition, but it shows his competitive fire. Great warm-up for Melbourne!
R
Rohit P
Respectfully, while the match was exciting, I find the article a bit too focused on stats and rankings. The real story is the quality of tennis they produce for fans worldwide, including us staying up late in India to watch! More on the match drama, less on the numbers, please.
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Priya S
Sinner's mental strength is incredible, coming back after losing the first set to force a tie-break. Both are champions. This rivalry is so good for the sport. Hope an Indian player can reach this level someday! 🤞
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Michael C
The difference is only 550 ranking points! That's nothing. This exhibition proves the gap is even smaller. Sinner winning the ATP Finals shows he's the man for the big occasions. Australian Open will be epic.
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Kavya N
Alcaraz at 22 with 6 Slams is just unreal talent. Sinner is also phenomenal. We are truly blessed to witness this era. The long rallies described must have been a treat. Wish it was televised here properly!

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