SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) — Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner teased Friday the prospect of teaming up for doubles as the world’s top two prepare to open their seasons with a lucrative exhibition match in South Korea, a week before the Australian Open.

The pair dominated men’s tennis in 2025 and contested all four Grand Slam finals between them, with Spain’s Alcaraz winning the French and US Opens and Italy’s Sinner triumphing at the Australian Open and Wimbledon.

Speaking on the eve of their match in Incheon, the friends and rivals floated the idea of pairing up as a formidable team.

“I think it would be fun at least one time to share the court in different ways, on the same side,” said Sinner, the world number two behind top-ranked Alcaraz.

“Of course the schedule [is a challenge]. And we are so focused on singles that it’s very difficult, because if then you go deep in singles and then you have to play doubles, you don’t have the right recovery.

“But for one tournament, I think it’s great to do it. And we’re going to talk about it maybe this year at a certain time where we feel like, or next year.”

Alcaraz was also receptive to the idea, saying it had crossed his mind “once or twice”.

“At least once would be fun,” he said.

“I think I’m playing forehand and he’s playing backhand.”

Alcaraz and Sinner will be on opposite sides of the court when they square off again on Saturday, when they will play their only warm-up before the Australian Open starts on January 18.

The 22-year-old Alcaraz has been critical of tennis’s packed schedule, and pulled out of the Shanghai Masters in September because of “physical issues”.

He said playing in South Korea was “a great way to get ready” for Melbourne, where he is looking to go beyond the quarter-finals for the first time.

“I think coming here for two, three days, keep preparing, keep getting yourself ready for the new season, I think it was a great idea,” he said.

“I’m just really happy that I’m able to do this event, this match with Jannik.”

Their rivalry has drawn comparisons with the “Big Three” of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, who ruled tennis for the early part of this century.

Sinner said he and Alcaraz “want to make our own story”.

“We need to see how long we can keep up this level,” said the 24-year-old who won six titles last year despite missing three months over a doping ban.

“What the big three has done, we cannot compare ourselves with them — and we also don’t want to.

“We are just ourselves and we want to make our own story.”

Carlos Alcaraz Photos: AFP