Carlos Alcaraz has picked up another ‘win’ over Jannik Sinner ahead of the 2026 tennis season.
Spanish star Alcaraz beat Sinner four times in 2025, en route to his second career year-end number one finish.
The pair are next scheduled to face off in an exhibition event in South Korea, just eight days before the Australian Open begins.
Returning as the defending champion, Sinner is expected to beat Alcaraz to the Australian Open title, although he’s just suffered another defeat to his biggest rival during the off-season…
Carlos Alcaraz finishes above Jannik Sinner in L’Equipe champions-des-champions rankings
Every year, French media outlet L’Equipe releases its ‘champions-des-champions’ rankings.
Recent winners of the award include Leon Marchand (Swimming – 2024), Novak Djokovic (Tennis – 2023), and Lionel Messi (Football – 2022).
In 2025, Slovenian cyclist Tadej Pogacar won the award with 821 points.
Swedish pole-vaulter Armand Duplantis was the runner-up, with 799 points, but finished miles ahead of the rest of the pack.
Beating his big rival once again, Alcaraz finished third, earning 252 points for his 2025 campaign, which saw him pick up two Grand Slam titles (French Open and US Open).
Footballer Ousmane Dembele was fourth with 226 points, ahead of Sinner, who scored 169.
There were no other tennis players on the list, as Leon Marchand (Swimming – 146 points), Marc Marquez (Motorcycling – 134 points), Marco Odermatt (Skiing – 104 points), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Basketball – 103 points), and Rory McIlroy (Golf – 75 points), rounded out the top 10.
Two ATP players made the top 10, but how did the stars of the WTA Tour fare in the women’s rankings?
Aryna Sabalenka was the only woman to finish in the top 10
Women’s world number one Aryna Sabalenka was the only WTA Tour player to feature in the champions-des-champions rankings.
The Belarusian scored 293 points, enough to see her slot into sixth position.
Summer McIntosh (Swimming – 628 points), Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (Athletics – 516 points), Melissa Jefferson-Wooden (Athletics – 425 points), Pauline Ferrand-Prevot (Cycling – 375 points), and Katie Ledecky (Swimming – 331 points) finished above her.
Federica Brignone (Skiing – 151 points) was seventh, ahead of Aitana Bonmati (Football – 140 points), Beatrice Chebet (Athletics – 85 points), and Angelina Melnikova (Gymnastics – 72 points).
Only time will tell how many tennis players will make the rankings in 2026, but it will certainly be something to look out for.
The likes of Sinner, Alcaraz, and Sabalenka would do their chances no harm by winning the Australian Open later this month.
The 2026 Australian Open is scheduled to begin on Sunday, January 18.
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