Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner thrilled Korean fans at the Hyundai Card Super Match exhibition, played at the Inspire Arena in Incheon, South Korea. The final score read 7-5 7-6(8) in favor of the Spaniard but both sets went down to the wire.
Even before the match began, there was plenty of excitement and catching up to do with two best players in the world. Sinner and Alcaraz were on press and fan duty throughout and we have compiled the five most wholesome moments from the event here:
Carlos Alcaraz Flaunts $24,000 Rolex Daytona
Carlos Alcaraz sported a Rolex Daytona’s Oyster, 40 mm, yellow gold variant at the exhibition event. He was seen wearing the watch, priced around $24,000, during the pre-match press and other activities as well.
The Spaniard has been associated with the brand for quite some time now and is often seen sporting the premium watches. This particular variant featured a turquoise dial, an Oysterflex bracelet along with a cerachrom bezel with tachymetric scale.
The Daytona is among the most durable and well-recognized features for the watchmaker and was also worn by Alcaraz during his title-winning run at the French Open last year.
Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner do the Korean heart
Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have a considerable following in Korea and fan excitement was palpable even in the lead-up to the exhibition event. Looking to connect with the local fandom, both the World No. 1 and 2 were seen posing for cameras while making the “Korean heart” gesture.
A popular hand gesture synonymous with K pop, the hand gesture involved overlapping the thumb and index finger to create a tiny heart. Both men sported a big smile as they took photographs during one of their media interactions.
Jannik Sinner Reveals Rival’s Real Contact Info
During a casual Q and A session, Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz were seen responding to fan queries written on post-it notes spread across a whiteboard.
One of the questions read out by Sinner read “What name do you have each other’s number saved as in your phone?”. In response, the Italian said he had saved the Spaniard’s number as “Carlos Alcaraz New”, joking that he was very “old school” when it came to things like that. The lighthearted banter, with both Sinner and Alcaraz bursting out in laughter, won over fans on social media.
“Not long ago, Carlos changed his phone number. So I saved his name with a “New” on it,” Jannik Sinner elaborated.
Ditching the tennis racket for table tennis paddles
Racket sports have a huge following in South Korea. It was then unsurprising that Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner ditched the tennis rackets to pick up table tennis paddles for another friendly match — albeit on a much smaller field.
The two were seen rallying on the table, with fans cheering in the background. Sinner took on a more aggressive approach in the rally, mixing the slice and spin on the ball. He eventually won the point as Alcaraz netted the ball.
Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner Flexing their dance moves
Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner spent a lot of time in front of the camera during the exhibition event. At one point, the two were even seen showcasing their shadow tennis skills. Both men were seen practising their tennis swing, with Sinner leading the way.
The two eventually switched from the tennis court to the dance floor, flexing their moves. A clip of the impromptu routine, with the song Leave Em Alone by American singers Layton Greene and Lil Baby, featuring fellow rappers Yung Miami and PnB Rock playing the backdrop, has since been widely circulated on social media.
