TENNIS | Alcaraz-Sinner rivalry right up there with Federer-Rafa, says Woodbridge

For the second straight year, a coaching change will grab all the limelight ahead of the Australian Open, the season’s first tennis Major.

If it was Novak Djokovic hiring Andy Murray as his on-court soothsayer in 2025, this time it’s Carlos Alcaraz severing ties with Juan Carlos Ferrero, a partnership that fetched the Spanish World No. 1 six Grand Slam titles.

Doubles legend Todd Woodbridge felt that it will be interesting to see how Alcaraz handles this changed dynamic. “He hasn’t always played every tournament with Ferrero being there, but it will be different because there is no security blanket,” he told select media.

“Alcaraz has one thing left to do — to win the Australian Open to achieve the career Grand Slam. You need to do it sooner because every year you come back, it builds pressure. [Golfer] Rory McIlroy, every time he went to the Masters, that was the story [until he won in 2025].”

For Alcaraz, 22, the biggest threat is set to be the two-time defending champion Jannik Sinner. Woodbridge, in fact, said that the 24-year-old Italian would be his title pick.

Regardless of who wins it eventually, the Aussie, winner of 16 men’s doubles Majors, felt that the Alcaraz-Sinner rivalry had already matched the intensity of the famed match-up between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.

“So early in their rivalry, they are playing a level that we only saw between Roger-Rafa, Novak-Roger and Novak-Rafa,” Woodbridge said.

“We got three extraordinary matches [in 2025] at Roland-Garros, Wimbledon, and US Open. The power, athleticism, tactics… they are there. In terms of longevity, there’s a long way to go. But in terms of quality, they’re already there and probably above.”

Among women, Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek – the top-two in the world – have tried to establish something similar, but have been successful only fleetingly. Woodbridge, nonetheless, remains enthused.

“I love the contrast. You have got the flat hard hitting of Sabalenka and then this absolute fighting, ‘rafaesque’ attitude that Iga brings with her spinny game. They hate to lose, which sometimes doesn’t look as good. But it shows that they wear their hearts on their sleeves.”

(Watch Australian Open 2026 from January 18, live on Sony Sports Ten 2, 4 & 5).