Carlos Alcaraz has disclosed why he didn’t jump on the Maldives vacation bandwagon like his peers Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka. Maldives emerged as the top choice for players to unwind during the 2025 off-season.
Sabalenka was already dreaming about it while competing at the WTA Finals. Sinner bumped into Alexander Zverev on his flight to Maldives, while Daniil Medvedev took his family there for a vacation. Jelena Ostapenko, Tallon Griekspoor, Belinda Bencic, and Anastasia Potapova were some of the other notable names who were spotted holidaying in the country.
Alcaraz recently sat down for a chat with former pro turned correspondent, Andrea Petkovic, for the Tennis Channel. She brought up the topic of his colleagues making a beeline for Maldives during the off-season, and he explained why he didn’t do the same. The Spaniard had a tongue-in-cheek response, stating he didn’t want to run into his peers during the off-season as well.
“Not for me, not this year (laughs). I’ve seen so many players going there, and I’m like, ‘I’m tired of seeing you guys, I’m going to move somewhere else,'” Alcaraz said.
Alcaraz kept himself occupied with a couple of exhibitions during the off-season and engaged in other fun activities. He spent a lot of time with his family and focused on training. He also parted ways with long-time coach, Juan Carlos Ferrero, last month. While most players are already competing in Australia, the World No. 1 will begin the 2026 season with an exhibition match in South Korea.
Carlos Alcaraz to face Jannik Sinner in the Hyundai Super Card Match
Carlos Alcaraz will lock horns with his chief rival Jannik Sinner in the Hyundai Super Card Match in Incheon, South Korea, on Saturday, January 10. This will be the first match of 2026 for both of them.
Alcaraz and Sinner will also partake in the 1 Point Slam, a fun exhibition event in the lead-up to the Australian Open 2026 on January 14. Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff, and Nick Kyrgios have also committed to play in an event that will pit the pros against the amateurs.
Alcaraz and Sinner will participate in another one-off exhibition to complete their prep before the season’s first Major. Alcaraz will take on home favorite Alex de Minaur on January 15, while Sinner will face Felix Auger-Aliassime on January 16.
Sinner is the two-time defending champion at the Australian Open. He’s aiming to become just the second man in the Open Era to claim three consecutive titles Down Under after Novak Djokovic. Alcaraz is eyeing to script some history of his own, with a Career Grand Slam on the line for him in Melbourne.
Also read:
PICTURE: Ben Shelton & Girlfriend Trinity Rodman Inseparable On Date Ahead Of Australian Open
Alcaraz Snubbed to Favor Sinner in Bold Australian Open Prediction: Ex-American Pro Explains Why
