Australian Open 2026: Roger Federer beams over Carlos Alcaraz-Jannik Sinner rivalry: “There’s obviously more to come”

Game recognised game in Melbourne when Roger Federer addressed the media at the Australian Open 2026.

The Swiss tennis legend, a six-time champion at the hard court Grand Slam, is back in Australia to play in an exhibition event at the inaugural Opening Ceremony on Saturday (17 January).

Looking towards the new generation of tennis superstars, the 20-time major winner was full of praise for the top two players in the world right now - Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner – especially their French Open final classic at Roland-Garros in June 2025.

“The rivalry with Alcaraz and Sinner is a great one; they play incredible tennis,” Federer said. “That French Open final was unreal. The game, not that it needed it, but it was great that we had it.

“For a second, for a moment, the world stood still in the sporting world and watched towards Paris, what was going on in that epic fifth set because it could have ended much, much sooner obviously for Jannik."

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“Then, all of a sudden it ended up in this most crazy fashion. Maybe one of the greatest games we've ever had in our sport. It's good we still live off that momentum.”

Roland-Garros was the first of three consecutive Grand Slam finals contested between Alcaraz and Sinner, where Alcaraz triumphed in Paris and New York, at the US Open, while Sinner won his first title in London at Wimbledon.

At the Australian Open, top seed Alcaraz will go for the Career Grand Slam as he begins his campaign against Adam Walton in the opening round.

Meanwhile, world No. 2 Sinner has his sights set on a historic threepeat at Melbourne Park, starting with his first-round match against Hugo Gaston.

The Australian Open main draw gets underway on Sunday (18 January), leading all the way to the final on 1 February, the only stage where Alcaraz and Sinner could face off at the season-opening major.

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