Alcaraz and Sinner show true colours after Australian Open decision | Tennis | Sport

Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have both shown their true colours by letting a young fan engage in a light-hearted hit during Saturday’s exhibition match between them in South Korea. Both world No.1 Alcaraz and No.2 Sinner have made the decision not to play an official warm-up tournament before this year’s first grand slam, the Australian Open.

The main draw in Melbourne begins on Sunday, January 18 and with both Alcaraz and Sinner seeded in opposite sides of the draw – both stars wil be heavy favourites to meet in the final. The pair have won each of the past eight men’s singles slams between them.

And as the top two players in men’s tennis gear up for their assault at another major title, both were involved in an exhibition in Korea’s Incheon, which Alcaraz won 7-5, 7-6. The match was paused in the fifth game of the second set when Alcaraz engaged in a rally with a young fan, who was temporarily given Sinner’s racket.

Sinner sat in the fan’s seat and watched his replacement hit a forehand winner. Speaking after the match, the Italian said:”It was ​an entertaining match, that’s why we came here. Obviously the main goal is in Australia.

“Exhibition matches are different. You are a bit more relaxed and also entertaining the crowd a little bit more ‍with different shots and different actions on court.”

Alcaraz added: “We all need the support from the fans, so feeling the love from the people was necessary for me ​to perform my best and play great tennis like I did today.”

Both will now jet off to Melbourne as they chase more history. Alcaraz will become the youngest player in men’s tennis history to complete the career grand slam if he wins this year’s Australian Open.

The Spaniard has six slams to his name – two French Opens, two Wimbledons and two US Opens. Sinner, meanwhile, is looking to join Novak Djokovic as the only man in the open era to win three consecutive Australian Opens and add to his four major title wins overall.

Meanwhile, former Wimbledon champion Pat Cash believes the Alcaraz and Sinner dominance is “not healthy” for the game. Speaking to Tennis365, he said: It’s a two-horse race and I don’t necessarily think it’s a healthy thing. We want to see those great finals between them and the French Open final set the bench so high that everyone wants to see that.

“We all want another five-set thriller with points being won from all angles, but that’s not going to happen all the time. So it is very much a two-horse race and if one of them has a bad day and gets knocked out, the tournament officials are going to be worried.

“They are all hoping Alcaraz and Sinner get to the final and do what they did at the French Open last year all over again. They are holding their breath that these two guys get through, and that’s not necessarily a healthy thing.”