The pair mixed up their game with an array of trick shots
\n INCHEON
\nCarlos Alcaraz beat his great rival Jannik Sinner 7-5 7-6(8) to win their Hyundai Card Super Match exhibition event in Incheon, South Korea, on Saturday that marked the start of the season for the world\u2019s top two men\u2019s tennis players.
\nThere was little to separate the two during the entertaining clash, with world number one Alcaraz squeaking ahead towards the end of both sets to clinch the win.
\n\u201cWe all need the support from the fans. So having the support and feeling the love from the people was necessary for me to perform my best and play great tennis like I did today,\u201d Alcaraz said.
\nIn their press conference on Friday, Sinner said the match would not be a true indicator of their levels heading into the new season and that both players would focus on entertaining spectators.
\nIt was a promise they lived up to, as the largely light-hearted hit-around unsurprisingly lacked the intensity that has characterised their previous meetings on the sport\u2019s biggest stages.
\nThe pair mixed up their game with an array of trick shots and engaged in a number of memorable rallies to keep fans at the Inspire Arena on the edge of their seats, with Sinner allowing a child in the stands to play a point for him in the second set.
\nExhibition events
\nIt was an entertaining display from both players, who are no strangers to putting on a show at exhibition events.
\nSinner and Alcaraz competed in the Six Kings Slam exhibition tournament in Riyadh in 2024 and 2025, with the Italian winning in the final on both occasions.
\nAlcaraz has defended his decision to play in such lucrative events despite previously saying he would consider skipping ATP Tour events to prioritise his health in a crowded schedule, saying they provide relief from the grind of the tour.
\nThe Spaniard has also admitted there are considerable financial incentives to playing exhibition events, saying last year the prize money on offer was a motivation for playing in the Six Kings Slam.
\nWith the exhibition match wrapped up, the serious business starts for Sinner and Alcaraz, who will now shift their attention to the Australian Open.
\nThe two have much at stake in the season\u2019s opening Grand Slam, which begins at Melbourne Park on January 18, with Sinner looking to win a third straight Australian Open title and Alcaraz chasing a career Grand Slam.
\n\u201cIt was an entertaining match, that\u2019s why we came here and obviously now the main goal is in Australia,\u201d Sinner said.
\n\u201cAt the end of the day, 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.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The pair mixed up their game with an array of trick shots INCHEON Carlos Alcaraz beat his great rival Jannik Sinner 7-5 7-6(8) to win their Hyundai Card Super Match exhibition event in Incheon, South Korea, on Saturday that marked the start of the season for the world\u2019s top two men\u2019s tennis players. There was […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":524960,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-524961","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sports"},"yoast_head":"\n