Did Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz make a big Australian Open mistake?

Kevin Palmer
Carlos Alcaraz and Barbara Schett
Barbara Schett talks to Tennis365 about Carlos Alcaraz

Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz are heading into the Australian Open as the pre-tournament favourites, but they may have taken a gamble ahead of the first Grand Slam of 2025.

While Novak Djokovic and a host of contenders for the big prize in Melbourne played warm-up events, Sinner and Alcaraz will play their first competitive match of the year in the opening round of the Australian Open.

That tactic worked for Sinner last year as he won the title without entering one of the ATP Tour events prior to the first major, while Alcaraz has followed that same path over the last couple of years.

The two players who shared the Grand Slam titles between them last year may not need extra match practice after cramming so much tennis into 2024 and in the opinion of former world No 7 Barbara Schett, the bookies’ favourites to win in Melbourne did not harm their hopes of success with their scheduling plan.

The Eurosport reporter spoke exclusively to Tennis365 ahead of the Australian Open and told us that as Sinner has already found a blueprint for success in Melbourne, he had no need to change that script.

“I don’t think Sinner played a warm-up event last year and he came out and won the Australian Open, so that says all you need to know about him,” said Schett.

“They have had time on court in the exhibition events before the Australian Open, so I’m not too worried that they haven’t played any lead-up events.

“They are so steady in their mind and in what they do on the court that they have the belief to work their way through the tournament and peak in the second week.

“They both played so much tennis last year and for Jannik, it was especially important to take some time off, go back to Italy to see his Mum and Da and do some skiing. He needed to take his mind away from things, as it can’t be easy with everything we know is going on.

“I still have a feeling that he is a little more consistent than Alcaraz tennis-wise. Sometimes, Alcaraz can go a little wild on court and Sinner is always so calm.

“You would think they will get through the first few rounds and they can ease their way into the tournament.”

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Alcaraz has already cemented his place among the tennis greats after winning four major titles by the age of 21.

If he wins in Melbourne, the Spaniard will become the youngest player of all time to complete a career Grand Slam.

Schett believes he will join the elite list of players who have won all four of the sport’s biggest titles, but she suggests he needs to contain his emotions on court to ensure he realises all of his sumptuous potential.

“To win a career Grand Slam at 21 would be incredible,” she added. “He can play tennis like no one else. His physicality on court is a joke, how fast he can play. If he can put it together, he is amazing.

“One question is whether he can be disciplined on court. Sometimes his mind can wander off, but if he is in his zone, he is amazing.

“He has someone new in his team (coach Samuel Lopez) as well as Juan Carlos Ferrero and it will be interesting to see how that works out.

“It is certainly on his bucket list to win the Australian Open. He has never won the title there and we are all enjoying this building rivalry with Jannik.”

Sinner and Alcaraz have proved that they don’t need extensive preparation to hit their peak form and after making a strong start to the Australian Open, the duo are the strong favourites to challenge for the title in Melbourne.

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