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Carlos Alcaraz has hailed rival Jannik Sinner's 'unbelievable' hardcourt form as the pair prepare for another potential Grand Slam showdown. The world's two best players can't meet until the final at the US Open, which gets underway today at Flushing Meadows.

Alcaraz doesn't play until the early hours of Tuesday morning against Reilly Opelka, the same day Sinner takes on Vit Kopriva. The Italian has not lost on a hard surface in a Slam since his match against Alexander Zverev in the fourth round of the US Open back in 2023. It's a stat that Alcaraz has taken heed of.

"I think the last three Grand Slams on hard court he won, if I'm not wrong," Alcaraz said. "It's been unbelievable the tennis he's bringing on hard courts.

"So I just look up to him in some way, just to be ready if I have to face him somewhere. It's gonna be great. Hopefully, you know, meet him in the final. He has a big target on his back."

The pair have already met in two Slam finals this season, with Alcaraz prevailing in a thrilling French Open finale before Sinner took revenge to win his first Wimbledon title. Their latest final battle at the Cincinnati Open last week ended in a default win for the Spaniard, with Sinner retiring ill at 5-0 down in the first set.

However, he's vowed to be 100 per cent fit in his bid for a third US Open title in a row. Alcaraz, who also won in New York for his maiden Slam win in 2022, insisted that relations remained good between the two despite their rivalry.

"Every time we face each other on court, we raise the level to the top," Alcaraz said. "The respect we have for each other and the good relationship we have off the court, I think it is great."

Sinner sat out the mixed doubles event last week following his struggles in Cincinnati. Alcaraz teamed up with Emma Raducanu, although the pair were beaten first up by Jack Draper and Jessica Pegula.