Jannik Sinner has returned to Melbourne, seeking to claim a third-straight Australian Open crown.
However, he will be pushed to the limit by Carlos Alcaraz, who is seeking a piece of history that would cement his status as the greatest youngster in the history of tennis.
If he is to win this first major of the year, he would be the youngest ever to complete the career Grand Slam. It will be interesting to see which way the Australian crowd pulls, should these two meet once again in the final.
Jannik Sinner will be hoping his kind words can win them over to his cause.
Jannik Sinner rates the Australian crowd
Speaking to the Australian network Nine, he first spoke about the crowd and how it feels to kickstart the season down under.
Sinner admitted: “Starting the season here is always great: you feel the enthusiasm that Australians have for this sport.”
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He then rated his pre-season, adding: “I know I have trained exceptionally well before arriving here. The preseason has been fantastic, and I feel very good physically.
“At the start of the season, there are always doubts, which is normal for a tennis player, but I also begin with a lot of confidence due to the results I have achieved here in the past. I am eager to start competing here.”
Sinner and Alcaraz’s practice partners ahead of the Australian Open have been revealed, as both seek to get themselves in the best possible shape, having opted against playing any preparatory tournaments.
Jannik Sinner reveals his major goal for 2026
Within this same interview, Sinner also sought to emphasise what his main goal was for 2026, involving Alcaraz.
He is desperate to wrestle back the world number one spot.
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To do that, he will have to win plenty of titles, which should always be a top aim of his, given his undeniable quality and dominance alongside the Spaniard. Defending his Australian Open title would mark the perfect start to such a venture.
Sinner claimed: “Reclaiming the number one spot is one of my major goals for the season, without a doubt. Returning there will be challenging, but I am thrilled to give it my all.”
He then added, about that captivating rivalry that has overtaken men’s tennis: “Of course, you think about it (the rivalry), but at the same time, if we remain ranked one and two, the only chance we have to face each other is in the final, and there is a long way to go before that. The rivalry motivates me, and I am pleased to be part of it.”
