Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner enjoyed fun-filled practice sessions together under the watchful eyes of their respective coaches ahead of the new season.
Alcaraz has returned to Spain after a busy off-season schedule. He played an exhibition match against Tommy Paul in front of nearly 30,000 cheerful fans in Mexico City. Then, he traveled to Los Cabos, where he trained hotel guests while simultaneously vacationing with his friends.
His return to Murcia was electric as he was given the honor of lighting the Christmas tree, a decorated monument in his home city that welcomes huge gatherings during the festive season. Alcaraz has since stripped his holiday gear for the tennis one to prepare for the new season.
He welcomed a familiar visitor at the JC Ferrero Tennis Academy in Villena, located northwest of Alicante. Jannik Sinner has been in Spain for over a week, refining his game in the presence of one of his coaches, Simone Vagnozzi, after his very own short-lived period of rest.
After clinching the country's first-ever Davis Cup title in 47 years, the Italian has garnered widespread status as a paragon back home. He has been to Milan to watch his boyhood football club in action and visited the Enzo Ferrari Museum in Maranello to tour the assembly line of the motor racing car company Ferrari.
It was initially reported that the two players would play an exhibition match, but that hasn't happened yet. Sinner answered the call to make the trip to Villena and practice with his direct rival, Alcaraz.
The pair have played seven matches on the ATP Tour, with the head-to-head currently in favor of the 22-year-old Sinner (4-3). After their hit session, they posed for a photo with their coaches.
Juan Carlos Ferrero and Samuel Lopez were in attendance. Still, the former World No. 1 won't travel with Alcaraz to Australia after undergoing arthroscopic surgery in his knee, leaving Lopez to deputize in his absence.
"Thanks @janniksin for coming to train at @EqueliteFerrero! Great morning and a great session! Warming up for 2024!"
"A good day of practice."