The 2026 Australian Open marked the first major in a year where Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner were not the two finalists.
At Roland Garros, Wimbledon and the US Open last season, the ‘new two’ met in the championship match, delivering a treble of enthralling clashes.
Outside of majors, Alcaraz and Sinner did battle in three tour-level finals, facing off in title bouts at the Italian Open, the Cincinnati Open and the ATP Finals.
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The Italian came agonisingly close to taking both Roland Garros and Wimbledon, having squandered three championship points in Paris before earning revenge at the All England Club.
Many considered Sinner to be the better player at both of those tournaments, but at the US Open, Alcaraz completely changed the narrative.
Richard Krajicek assesses Carlos Alcaraz’s rivalry with Jannik Sinner
In an interview with Bolivip, Krajicek said: “Head to head, Sinner is behind, but I have to say that in the middle of last year, Sinner was the better player. I mean, he basically won the French Open. I know he didn’t, but you know what I mean.
“But then something changed, and at the US Open, I think Sinner was playing the match completely wrong. He was going for way too many big shots.
“He was hitting so hard on his forehand and missing all the time. To me, that was a sign of how much respect he has for Alcaraz.
“For me, Alcaraz and Sinner are on the same level, but somehow I get the feeling Alcaraz is a bit ahead of him right now, and Sinner is frustrated because he feels like he needs to go bigger and bigger to win points.
“I think it will continue to be like this all the time. At one point, Alcaraz is better, then Sinner will become better, and that continues happening, but in that way they can really push each other.
“I don’t see someone just running away with all the trophies all of a sudden. It was extremely important for Alcaraz to win the Australian Open because he needed those points, and the way he did it was out of this world.
“Of course, it was amazing as well to see how he became the youngest ever to complete the Career Grand Slam. What he did physically and mentally was an amazing accomplishment.”
Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner could meet again in Doha
Having both taken some time off following their Australian Open campaigns, Alcaraz and Sinner will next feature on the ATP Tour at the Qatar Open.
A reminder of what happens when Jannik Sinner plays Carlos Alcaraz…
They were set to be joined by world number three Novak Djokovic, but the Serb withdrew due to ‘strong fatigue’.
Alcaraz and Sinner will be the overwhelming favourites to go all the way in Doha, and will likely meet in another final.
The head-to-head is currently 10-6 in favour of the seven-time major champion, who became the youngest player ever to complete the Career Grand Slam at Melbourne Park.
Sinner’s last win in the rivalry was at the year-end ATP Finals, where he emerged victorious in straight sets.
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