Following the United Cup’s conclusion on Sunday, the ATP’s biggest stars will turn their attention to the first Grand Slam of the year.
Jannik Sinner is the defending Australian Open champion, and he will hope to make it three in a row when the tournament concludes on February 1.
Sinner won his maiden Grand Slam title at the 2024 event, before repeating the feat a year later; defeating Alexander Zverev in the final.
As for Carlos Alcaraz, he will be hoping for greater success at a Slam in which he has struggled in the past. Alcaraz, the world number one, has never advanced beyond the quarter-finals in Melbourne.
Having won the past eight Grand Slam titles combined, Alcaraz and Sinner are undoubtedly the two favourites for the Australian Open title.
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And on Monday, their first Australian Open practise partners were revealed.
Carlos Alcaraz is set to practise with Taylor Fritz ahead of the Australian Open
As reported by reputable tennis journalist Michal Samulski, Carlos Alcaraz is set to hit with American number one Taylor Fritz on Tuesday.
Alcaraz and Fritz, both ranked in the ATP top 10, developed an unlikely rivalry last year. The pair played four matches [including the Laver Cup], with Alcaraz winning three of those contests.
However, the results themselves have not formed the basis of this rivalry. Rather, the ferocity of their battles has been the most poignant aspect of their contests.
Their last contest of the year, won by Alcaraz at the ATP Finals, was one of the most exhilarating contests witnessed on the Tour in years.
As for Jannik Sinner – Carlos Alcaraz’s greatest rival – he is set to practise with Davis Cup hero Flavio Cobolli, who practised with Alcaraz during the 2025 off-season.
Alcaraz and Sinner are also set to take part in the ‘One Point Slam,’ which will take place on Wednesday in Melbourne.
The last player to win the Australian Open other than Carlos Alcaraz or Jannik Sinner
Novak Djokovic equalled Rafael Nadal’s record of 22 Grand Slam singles titles after winning the 2023 Australian Open.
Djokovic, who has gone on to win two more major titles, defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas in straight sets in the final.
After the final, Djokovic told reporters in Melbourne: “Yeah, just a huge pride and satisfaction that I feel at the moment.
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“Of course, when I went into my box, I just think emotionally collapsed there and teared up with especially my mother and my brother, when I gave them a hug, because up to that moment I was not allowing myself to, I guess, be distracted with things off the court or whatever was happening in dealing with an injury, things happening off the court, as well, that could easily have been a big disturbance to my focus, to my game.
“It required an enormous mental energy really to stay present, to stay focused, to take things day by day, and really see how far I can go.
“If I turn back the time two and a half weeks ago, I wasn’t really liking my chance in this tournament with the way I felt with my leg. Then it was just a matter of survival of every single match, trying to take it to the next round.
“The good thing about the Grand Slam here is that you have a day between the matches, so it allowed me to have more time than normally on some other tournaments to recover, to try to do all the treatments in order to get myself in somewhat of a good state and condition to play and eventually win.
“From fourth round onwards, I feel the leg was not bothering me as much. I felt my movement was much better. I played some of my best tennis honestly in Australian Open. The fourth round, quarterfinal, semifinals, just really comfortable on the court, hitting the ball great. I knew that against Stefanos, it’s going to be different match than what I had throughout the entire tournament.
“I saw him play. I saw how dominant he was, as well. I knew that it’s going to be a big challenge and that I have to stay tough. That’s what I’ve done.
“I think I started off really well. Pretty short time for the play of the first set, I think about 30, 35 minutes. Then second set he was a better player. He had his chances. Didn’t use them. He had a set point. I just held my nerves in both tiebreaks in second and third.
“Yeah, was a huge relief and release of the emotions in the end. Yeah, just difficult to find any additional words really. It’s been a long journey, but very special one.”
Djokovic will be hoping to win his 11th Australian Open title at this year’s tournament. If Djokovic does so, he will become the all-time leader for Grand Slam singles titles won [25] – one ahead of Margaret Court.
