The ATP calendar is very long and the first Grand Slam of the season represents only an appetizer of a long series of tournaments that will characterize a very important season for several top players.

Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz are among the top Australian Open favorites. Two youngsters conquered all four Major titles in 2024, and they want more in the new season! Jannik and Carlos shared the same side of the court during Sunday's practice session.

FILE - Italy’s Jannik Sinner returns the ball to Netherlands’ Tallon Griekspoor during the Davis Cup final tennis match between Netherlands and Italy at the Martin Carpena Sports Hall in Malaga, southern Spain, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez, File)

The top-ranked Sinner, who is the defending champion at Melbourne Park, and No. 3 Alcaraz are coming off a 2024 season in which they each won two Grand Slam titles.

MELBOURNE – Carlos Alcaraz said on Jan 11 that his burgeoning rivalry with Jannik Sinner brought out the best in him, with the Spanish star driven by winning more Grand Slam titles and toppling the Italian as world No. 1.

Naomi Osaka, a two-time champion in Australia, stopped playing because of a strained abdominal muscle after dropping the first set of her match against Tokyo Olympics gold medalist Belinda Bencic.

When Carlos Alcaraz is on court for a training ... He's also got his young rival, Jannik Sinner, in mind. “The good thing for me is, when I’m seeing him winning titles, when I’m seeing ...

FILE - Carlos Alcaraz, right, of Spain talks with runner-up Jannik Sinner of Italy after winning their men's singles finals match of the China Open tennis tournament, at the National Tennis Center ...

When Carlos Alcaraz is on court for a training session, perhaps working on his newly revamped service motion, he's doing so to buttress a game already good enough to claim four Grand Slam titles. He's also got his young rival,

Jannik Sinner has set this eyes on the Australian Open, which he aims to win for the second time in a row. But he’s also aware of the huge threat in the form of Carlos Alcaraz, who is bidding to complete his Career Grand Slam.

Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic lead the men’s field at the 2025 Australian Open. The year’s first Grand Slam tournament begins on the hard courts of Melbourne Park on Sunday morning local time,