Carlos Alcaraz has kicked off the mind games with Jannik Sinner by suggesting that he has an important advantage over the Italian.

High temperatures have caused chaos at the Australian Open this year with the country in the midst of a blistering heatwave.

Quizzed on the tricky conditions, Alcaraz said: “Someone like Jannik has his team, he has everything meticulously planned, and I’m sure they do things right to arrive in top form.

“He’s from a very cold, mountainous region, and I’m from Murcia, where it’s very hot, so the warmer conditions benefit me, I won’t deny it.

“Even so, he’s been on the circuit for a long time, he’s spent many summers here, and I think he’s adapted.

“Although it’s true that sometimes he still struggles a bit, and that could be something we can take advantage of.”