World number one Carlos Alcaraz arrives in Melbourne with only one mission in mind -- claim a first Australian Open title to become the youngest man to complete the career Grand Slam.
Defending champion Jannik Sinner, who has been recovering from illness, received a more favourable route to the US Open final than Carlos Alcaraz while Aryna Sabalenka will be tested in her bid to retain her title after the draw was made on Thursday.
The opening Grand Slam of the year begins at Melbourne Park on Sunday.
Novak Djokovic took encouragement from his run to the Australian Open final and pledged to keep fighting at the Grand Slams after Carlos Alcaraz again denied his bid for a record 25th major title.
Jannik and Carlos are the favourites at Flushing Meadows, but don't write these men off!
Between them, Alcaraz and Sinner have shared the last six Grand Slam titles and their mesmeric clash last month in the longest-ever French Open final is being touted as one of the greatest of all time.
'It feels emotional because only me and the people who are close to me know exactly what we have been through on and off the court, and it has been everything except easy.'
Sinner parted ways with Ferrara and physiotherapist Giacomo Naldi last year following the investigation into his positive tests for banned substance clostebol.
Italy's Jannik Sinner lost both his previous Wimbledon duels with Novak Djokovic but turned the tables in emphatic fashion as his power and precision proved too much for the seven-time champion who, at 38, looked every bit his age in a humbling 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 loss.
Jannik Sinner beat defending champion and Spanish second seed Carlos Alcaraz to win his first Wimbledon title.
Top seed and defending champion Jannik Sinner, playing on his 24th birthday, ended French qualifier Terence Atmane's dream run at the Cincinnati Open with a 7-6(4), 6-2 win on Saturday to reach the final of the US Open tune-up event.
Top seed Jannik Sinner continued his serene French Open progress with a 6-1, 6-3, 6-4 dismantling of Russian Andrey Rublev to reach the quarter-finals in ominous fashion on Monday.
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Carlos Alcaraz said he could hold his head high despite being unseated from his Wimbledon throne by Jannik Sinner on Sunday and the Spaniard praised their hot rivalry for being several notches higher than the others on the men's tour.
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'I've practised with both of them a little bit and they're incredible ball strikers. There's more to come, I hope they stay injury-free.'
Sinner signed a few tennis balls for the Royal kids, and later, at the post-match press conference he revealed what he said to Prince George and Princess Charlotte after his victory.
Two-time Olympic medallist Neeraj Chopra added another sporting experience to his name on Sunday
Iga Swiatek survived a surprise U.S. Open second-round test on Thursday as men's top seed Jannik Sinner and Japan's four-times major winner Naomi Osaka cruised through.
The 23-year-old has dropped 17 games in his three matches at an average of less than two per set, in an ominous warning to his rivals for the title.
Novak Djokovic, who is eyeing a record 25th Grand Slam title, looks likely to need to beat either Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz or both at the business end of the Australian Open.
Jannik Sinner's bid to win back-to-back Halle Open titles was ended on Thursday
Jannik Sinner navigated mild turbulence for a winning return to Grand Slam tennis as the world number one launched his hunt for a maiden French Open trophy.
The day session attendance of 51,048 was some 10,000 short of day six on Friday and even less than last year's corresponding session.
Images from the US Open matches played at Flushing Meadows on Saturday
Carlos Alcaraz battled a leg issue and survived a five-hour, 27-minute thriller against Alexander Zverev to reach his first Australian Open final and keep his career Grand Slam dream alive.
Germany's Alexander Zverev remained on track for a return to the Australian Open final after beating American Learner Tien 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-1, 7-6(3) in the Melbourne Park quarter-finals on Tuesday.
Defending champion Jannik Sinner swept past Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-0, 6-2 on Thursday to reach the Cincinnati Open semi-finals, the world number one extending his hardcourt winning streak to 25 matches.
A defiant Novak Djokovic is adamant he can still beat any player on his day but at 38 the Serb is no longer focusing on the Grand Slam record, saying he does not need the pressure it brings.
Novak Djokovic, the 10-times Australian Open champion, will continue his quest for a record-extending Melbourne Park title and a 25th Grand Slam crown to surpass the record he currently shares with Margaret Court.
'I believe that tennis or every sport needs rivalries. This could be potentially one of them, but there are amazing players coming up.'
Carlos Alcaraz had little trouble dismantling Jannik Sinner in the Italian Open final, to snap the world number one's 26-match winning streak.
Jannik Sinner was ecstatic after a victorious return following a three-month doping ban
A clash of nerves, brilliance, and next-gen firepower-Alcaraz showed once again he's made for the biggest stages. As the tennis world erupted, legends led the tributes.
Together, the two young stars have now claimed seven out of the last eight Grand Slam titles.
...And Alcaraz continues hat-trick quest
As he chases Grand Slam success, Alexander Zverev describes the unseen routines and discipline behind playing tennis with type 1 diabetes.
Carlos Alcaraz says winning all four Grand Slams at 22 has only fuelled his hunger, but the world No. 1 insists he won't chase a calendar Slam, choosing instead to take the majors one at a time.
Sinner prepares for sleepless night after dramatic loss to Alcaraz at French Open
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