Alcaraz and Sinner hint at rare doubles partnership

January 10, 2026 Oliver Obel

In a sport increasingly shaped by packed schedules and singles priorities, the idea is unusual. But Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have suggested they would consider sharing a doubles court at least once.

The two rivals, regarded by many as the leading forces in men’s tennis, indicated they would be open to a one-off partnership, a prospect that has already sparked interest among fans.

Their comments came ahead of an exhibition meeting in South Korea, staged just days before the 2026 Australian Open begins in Melbourne.

A rivalry defining the era

Over the past two seasons, Alcaraz and Sinner have consistently pulled clear of the rest of the ATP Tour. Between them, they claimed all four men’s Grand Slam titles in 2025, underscoring their influence at the sport’s biggest events.

Sinner won the Australian Open and Wimbledon, while Alcaraz lifted trophies at Roland Garros and the US Open, further cementing their status at the top of the men’s game.

Exhibition before Melbourne

Before turning their attention to the season’s first major, the pair will face each other in Seoul as part of the Hyundai Card Super Match, an exhibition scheduled for Saturday at the Inspire Arena.

Asked during pre-match media duties whether their rivalry could ever translate into a doubles partnership, Alcaraz was open to the possibility. “At least once would be fine. But I think I’m playing forehand and he’s playing backhand, if my partner agrees [points at Sinner],” he said.

Sinner echoed the sentiment while outlining the practical obstacles. “Yeah, I agree on that for sure. We have never talked about this, but I think it would be fun at least one time to share the court in different ways, on the same side,” he said.

He explained that deep runs in singles often make additional doubles commitments difficult, given the physical demands and recovery required during tournaments.

Rare, but not unprecedented

Although elite singles rivals rarely join forces, tennis has produced notable exceptions. Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal famously teamed up at the Laver Cup, including the match that marked the final appearance of Federer’s professional career.

Federer also partnered Novak Djokovic at the same event in 2018, illustrating how even long-standing competitors have occasionally set rivalries aside.

Whether Alcaraz and Sinner ever follow that path remains uncertain. For now, their openness to the idea has added a fresh talking point to a rivalry that already defines the current era.

Sources: SPORTbible, The Tennis Letter

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