'Sincaraz' rivalry set to dominate Australian Open men's draw

MELBOURNE, Jan 15 : Defending champion Jannik Sinner is the bookmakers' favourite to win a third successive Australian Open crown as another title showdown looms with world number one Carlos Alcaraz.

The "Sincaraz" duopoly swept all four Grand Slam titles in 2025 and their dominance is expected to continue at Melbourne Park where few in the men's draw appear equipped to challenge, let alone beat them.

A Sinner victory would mean a fifth Grand Slam title for the 24-year-old Italian and make him the first to lift the Australian Open trophy three years running since Novak Djokovic in 2019-21.

For 22-year-old Alcaraz, a first Australian Open triumph would mean a seventh major trophy and the distinction of being the youngest man to complete the career Grand Slam, eclipsing Don Budge's long-standing record.

Sinner and Alcaraz have operated in a different stratosphere to hog the sport's biggest trophies, and even their travel arrangements to Melbourne were a class apart.

As lower-ranked players toiled through stifling heat at warm-up tournaments in Australia, the duo flew in on a private jet from a no-pressure exhibition match in Seoul, arriving fresh and unruffled for the tournament starting on Sunday.

While Alcaraz finished a career-best season in 2025 with the world's top ranking, Sinner capped his own terrific year by successfully defending his ATP Finals title, beating the Spaniard in the decider in front of adoring home fans in Turin.

The Italian, who faces France's Hugo Gaston in the first round, has worked to add greater unpredictability, particularly on serve, into his game to keep pace with Alcaraz, the sport's most explosive talent.

Alcaraz is determined to hit back in Melbourne, though, saying he would rather hoist the