World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz and No. 2 Jannik Sinner have arrived in Korea for a high-profile exhibition match scheduled for January 10th, just a week before the Australian Open begins. The clash will take place at the Inspire Arena and is expected to draw significant attention as the two leading players face off ahead of the first Grand Slam of the year.
Financial details of the event
According to Italian publication Gazzetta dello Sport, both Alcaraz and Sinner will earn €2,000,000 (about $2.33 million) for participating in the exhibition. The lucrative nature of the event highlights the growing global appeal of tennis and the star power of its two youngest champions.
Rivalry renewed
The exhibition serves as a rematch of the ATP Finals title match in Turin, where Sinner defeated Alcaraz 7–6(4), 7–5. Despite that result, Alcaraz currently leads their head-to-head series 10–6. The pair have already made history by contesting three consecutive Grand Slam finals, an Open Era record.
Sinner’s pursuit of history
Sinner enters the Australian Open aiming to secure a third consecutive title in Melbourne. Achieving this would place him alongside Novak Djokovic as only the second man in the Open Era to win three straight championships at the event.
Alcaraz’s career milestone
For Alcaraz, the Australian Open presents the chance to become the youngest man to complete the career Grand Slam. At 22 years old, he has already captured titles at Wimbledon, the US Open, and Roland Garros, and now seeks to add Melbourne Park to his collection.
Preparation for Melbourne
The Korea exhibition is seen as a crucial warm-up for both players. With their rivalry intensifying and their ambitions clear, the match offers fans a preview of what could unfold at the Australian Open.
Jannik Sinner in 2025
LWW Now ranked no.2, Jannik played his last match on the 16th of November 2025 when he defeated world no.1 Carlos Alcaraz 7-6(4) 7-5 in the final in the Nitto ATP Finals to win his 25th career title.
During this season Sinner achieved a 58-6 win-loss record.
He is also scheduled to play in Paris (Rolex Paris Masters) after Vienna. The main draw will start on the 20th of October.
Carlos Alcaraz in 2025
Currently the world no.1, Alcaraz played his last match on the 16th of November 2025 when he surrendered to world no.2 Jannik Sinner 7-6(4) 7-5 in the final in the Nitto ATP Finals (draw).
Currently, during this season Carlos achieved a composed 71-9 record.
He is also scheduled to play in Paris (Rolex Paris Masters). The main draw will start on the 27th of October.
Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz fought against each other 17 times. Their head to head is 11-6 for Alcaraz.
