When Carlos Alcaraz is on court for a training session, perhaps working on his newly revamped service motion, he's doing so to buttress a game already good enough to claim four Grand Slam titles.

Four-times Grand Slam champion Carlos Alcaraz said having a rival like world number one Jannik Sinner was good for his game as it pushes him to be at his best every time he walks on court.

Like many others, the Briton sees Jannik Sinner, Alexander Zverev, Carlos Alcaraz or Novak Djokovic lifting a trophy on January 26. The former Wimbledon semi-finalist further reduced the favorites list, naming Sinner and Alcaraz as the players to beat.

Jannik Sinner will launch his Australian Open title defence under a stubborn doping cloud but the whiff of scandal may do little to halt the Italian juggernaut. Sinner remains the man to beat at Melbourne Park even as doping officials seek a two-year ban for the world number one for failing two drugs tests last March.