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Sinner Reflects on 2025, Sets Early‑2026 Tune‑Up Before Australian Open Defense

He pivots to refinements ahead of Seoul with a 2,000‑point defense looming in Melbourne.

Overview

  • Jannik Sinner closed the year with a social‑media video thanking his team and fans while acknowledging both highs and hard‑to‑accept lows from 2025.
  • He enters 2026 ranked No. 2, 550 points behind Carlos Alcaraz, with 2,000 ranking points to defend at the season’s first Grand Slam.
  • His immediate schedule features a January 10 exhibition against Alcaraz in Seoul, the One Shot Slam on January 14, and another exhibition with Felix Auger‑Aliassime on January 16 before the Australian Open begins on January 18.
  • Alcaraz reacted to Sinner’s video with a handshake emoji as their rivalry resumes after a 2025 season that included a Roland Garros final won by Alcaraz and a 10–6 head‑to‑head edge for the Spaniard across 16 meetings.
  • Sinner’s preseason work emphasizes a more aggressive second serve and more frequent down‑the‑line patterns, with coach Darren Cahill remaining alongside him and no official matches scheduled before Melbourne.