The two highest-ranked players on the men’s tour have agreed to go head-to-head in an exhibition match in South Korea at the start of the 2026 season, according to reports.
Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz both broke the news of their upcoming match on social media, with each posting a photo featuring the caption ‘see you in Korea.’ It is being organised by Hyundai Card, a credit card company under the Hyundai Motor Group. According to the Yohap News Agency, past editions of the Hyundai Super Match have featured the likes of Maria Sharapova, Venus Williams, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic and Andy Roddick.
The Chosun Daily newspaper reports the date of the match will be January 10th and it will be held at the Incheon Inspire Arena in Seoul. Should this be the case, it is very unlikely that both players will play an ATP event leading up to the Australian Open, which starts on January 18th. Sinner is the defending champion in Melbourne Park and Alcaraz is seeking to win the title for the first time. Should the Spaniard prevail in Australia, he will achieve a career Grand Slam before his 23rd birthday.
However, organisers have yet to confirm the reported date and venue. In a statement issued on Wednesday, they said they ‘will soon confirm and announce the date, venue, ticket sales schedule, and other details.’
On the ATP Tour, Sinner and Alcaraz have played against each other 15 times, with Alcaraz winning 10 of those meetings. Their latest clash wasn’t on the Tour but in the final of another exhibition event in Saudi Arabia, where Sinner came out on top, earning a total of $6M in prize money (including $1.5M participation fee).
The two players could renew their rivalry later this year with both of them scheduled to play at the Paris Masters and ATP Finals in Turin. Sinner is currently playing in Basel, but Alcaraz won’t return to action until Paris.
