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11h ago

Alcaraz Edges Sinner in Sold-Out Incheon Exhibition Before Australian Open

The fan-focused tune-up carried no ranking points or official head-to-head impact but gave the top two a final run-out before Melbourne.

Jannik Sinner of Italy (3rd from R, front row in the stands) watches as a young Korean player hits a shot to Carlos Alcaraz of Spain during an exhibition tennis match at Inspire Arena in Incheon, west of Seoul, on Jan. 10, 2026. (Yonhap)
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Overview

  • Carlos Alcaraz beat Jannik Sinner 7-5, 7-6 (8-6) at Inspire Arena in their first meeting on Korean soil.
  • Roughly 12,000 fans attended, with Alcaraz calling the support “insane” and Sinner saying the crowd made them feel at home.
  • Sinner handed his racket to a young boy in the second set, and the child stepped on court to win a point against Alcaraz.
  • Organisers did not disclose appearance fees, while Italian reports suggested each player may have earned more than $2 million for the 1-hour, 47-minute match.
  • Both players described the exhibition as ideal preparation before heading to Melbourne, where Sinner is the two-time defending champion and Alcaraz seeks to complete a career Grand Slam.