Alcaraz beats Sinner in sold-out South Korea exhibition match

Incheon, South Korea: Carlos Alcaraz beat great rival Jannik Sinner in a light hearted sell out exhibition match in South Korea on Saturday ahead of t...

Incheon, South Korea: Carlos Alcaraz beat great rival Jannik Sinner in a light-hearted sell-out exhibition match in South Korea on Saturday ahead of the Australian Open.

Taking place eight days before the Melbourne Grand Slam and in their first appearances this year, the Spanish world number one won 7-5, 7-6 (8/6) in front of an enthusiastic 12,000 crowd in Incheon.

Neither will play competitively until the Australian Open, where Italy's world number two Sinner is the defending two-time champion. The match that lasted one hour and 47 minutes.

It was not always entirely serious, the smiling duo treating a packed house to some trick shots between their legs, drawing cheers, and reacting to calls from the crowd by making heart gestures.

"Jannik, we finished the season playing together. We started the season playing together," Alcaraz said on court afterwards, addressing Sinner.