With two of tennis’ ‘Big Three’ now retired, Carlos Alcaraz’s matches against Jannik Sinner, for many, top the list among active rivalries in the men’s game.
They have met on each of the sport’s different surfaces and in finals, with Alcaraz holding a 6-4 head-to-head advantage.
READ: Five reasons we love Carlos Alcaraz
But one thing missing? Facing off in a Grand Slam final.
Given that they shared the major trophy haul last season, a showdown at Australian Open 2025 would provide a treat early in the new season.
Sinner continues to be on Alcaraz’s mind, including during the most recent off-season.
“Probably if I have a bad day against Jannik, it’s 99 percent that you are going to lose,” Alcaraz told reporters on Saturday at Melbourne Park. “That’s what is in my mind every time I’m going to play against him.
“The good thing for me is when I am seeing him win titles, when I’m seeing him in the top of the ranking, it forces me to practise even harder every day. In practice, I’m just thinking about the things that I have to improve to play against him.
“That I think is great for me, having him, having such a great rivalry so far, just to give the best of me every day.”
The two engaged in a light-hearted question-and-answer session during November’s ATP Finals in Sinner’s native Italy.
They discussed what shot they would take from each other but also what shot they would not take from each other.
Awkward? Not really, given their friendship and mutual respect.
When Alcaraz picked the Sinner volley, the latter replied with a laugh, “That was easy, though.”
And what did Sinner counter with? “I am in a bad situation because you play everything good. Your serve, if I have to choose one,” said Sinner.
Alcaraz’s response? “I agree, I agree.”
Alcaraz indeed tweaked his service motion in the off-season in a bid to find greater fluency and effectiveness.
The Spaniard might be looking for quicker opportunities to end points after hitting his serve.
He finished 30th in 2024 in points won behind the first serve, compared to Sinner’s second.
“I’m still reminding myself how I have to do it,” Alcaraz said. “But every day is getting better and better - or I’m feeling better and better with it. We knew I had to change something on the serve to be better at it.
“I believe it will lift (those) doubts and it’s going to be natural.”
If the 21-year-old goes all the way at AO 2025 - possibly encountering 10-time champion Novak Djokovic and second-seed Alexander Zverev prior to a potential clash with Sinner - he would become the youngest man to complete the career Grand Slam.
Djokovic and Zverev handed Alcaraz tough defeats last season, in the Olympic final and at the Australian Open, respectively. Alcaraz, however, toppled Zverev in five sets in the French Open final.
Primary coach Juan Carlos Ferrero is back with Alcaraz in Melbourne, having missed out in 2024 while recovering from knee surgery.
Samuel Lopez is a new addition, although he long coached Alcaraz’s sometimes training partner and fellow Spaniard, Pablo Carreno Busta.
Alcaraz, who meets the big-serving Alexander Shevchenko in the first round, is ready to go.
“It’s been a really good week,” he said. “Practising with the best, seeing where my level is, just getting ready.”