Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner will renew their growing rivalry in an exhibition match in South Korea just days before the Australian Open. The two stars will face off in the Hyundai Card Super Match in Incheon on 10 January, only eight days before the year’s first Grand Slam begins in Melbourne.
Rivalry heads to Asia
The exhibition will mark the first time South Korean fans witness the two leading names in men’s tennis go head-to-head. “For domestic tennis fans, it will be the very first opportunity to see the two top-ranked players compete,” organisers said in a statement.
Sinner and Alcaraz have dominated the 2025 season, contesting three of the four Grand Slam finals and sharing nine of the last 10 major titles between them. Their on-court duels have quickly become the defining rivalry of the new generation.
Race for number one continues
Sinner reclaimed the world number one spot from Alcaraz after his victory over Felix Auger-Aliassime in the Paris Masters final, moving 250 ranking points ahead. The Italian’s 6-4, 7-6 (7-4) win ensured he will arrive in the ATP Finals in Turin as the top seed.
Alcaraz still leads their overall head-to-head record 10-5. The Spaniard defeated Sinner in a thrilling French Open final earlier this year, while Sinner struck back at Wimbledon. Their most recent meeting came at the US Open, where Alcaraz lifted his sixth Grand Slam trophy.
Perfect prelude to the new season
With both players at the peak of their powers, the exhibition in Incheon will offer a tantalising preview of what could await in Melbourne. For fans in Asia, it’s a rare chance to see the sport’s two brightest stars share the same court before the 2025 season fully begins.
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