{"id":95444,"date":"2026-01-10T09:30:42","date_gmt":"2026-01-10T14:30:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/tennis\/?p=95444"},"modified":"2026-01-10T16:51:35","modified_gmt":"2026-01-10T21:51:35","slug":"carlos-alcaraz-beats-jannik-sinner-in-sold-out-korea-exhibition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/tennis\/2026\/01\/10\/carlos-alcaraz-beats-jannik-sinner-in-sold-out-korea-exhibition\/","title":{"rendered":"Carlos Alcaraz Beats Jannik Sinner in Sold-Out Korea Exhibition"},"content":{"rendered":"

World number one tennis player Carlos Alcaraz defeated his great\u00a0rival\u00a0Jannik Sinner in an entertaining exhibition<\/a> match in South Korea on Saturday, just ahead of the Australian Open.<\/p>\n

The match took place a mere eight days before the Melbourne Grand Slam, marking both players\u2019 first appearances of the year, with the Spanish world number one securing a 7-5, 7-6 (8\/6) victory in front of an enthusiastic crowd of 12,000 in\u00a0Incheon<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Neither player will compete again until the Australian Open, where Italy\u2019s world number two Sinner is the reigning two-time champion.<\/p>\n

South Korean organisers have not disclosed the earnings for either player from the event, but reports from Italy suggest each may earn over $2 million for the match<\/a>, which lasted one hour and 47 minutes.<\/p>\n

Trick Shot Magic In The Exo<\/h3>\n

The match retained a light-hearted atmosphere, with the players entertaining the packed audience with trick shots behind their backs, inviting cheers, and responding to audience calls with heart gestures.<\/p>\n

Over the past two years, Alcaraz and Sinner have dominated men\u2019s tennis<\/a>, sharing all four Grand Slam titles between them in 2024 and 2025.<\/p>\n

While they are fierce competitors<\/a> on the court, they share a close friendship off it, with Alcaraz holding a 10-6 advantage in their rivalry heading into the exhibition. They will be the favourites when the Australian Open kicks off in Melbourne on January 18, as the competitive phase begins.<\/p>\n

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Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/div>\n