As we head into one of the most exciting times of the year for sports fans, this summer brings with it some of the most heated rivalries we've seen in recent years. From tennis to the NBA to the world of horse racing, these are some of the head-to-head matchups that are simmering with the intensity of an egg frying on a Miami sidewalk. 

Alcaraz proved best at Roland Garros. (WikiMedia Commons/Like tears in rain)

Carlos Alcaraz vs. Jannik Sinner

What more can you say about Carlos Alcaraz? Down two sets and facing three championship points, he rallied against the world’s No. 1 player and pulled one of the most miraculous victories in the history of Roland Garros. The win also gave Alcaraz a career 8-to-4 edge over Sinner in their head-to-head matchups. For those keeping score at home, Alcaraz now has a 5-to-3 lead over Sinner in Grand Slam titles, too. The next few years are going to be insane if these two maintain this level of play.

Aryna Sabalenka vs. Coco Gauff

This rivalry took another twist at the French Open with Gauff battling back from losing a tough first set to beat the top-ranked Sabalenka in three sets. Adding to the drama were comments Sabalenka made after the match indicating that it was her own poor play, rather than Gauff’s superiority, that led to her losing. Regardless, Coco has now beaten Aryna twice in Grand Slam finals. Sabalenka does hold the career head-to-head edge against Gauff by a margin of 3-to-2. Like Alcaraz and Sinner, the top-two ranked women in the world are sure to have many more battles ahead.

Sovereignty winning Belmont Stakes. (Eclipse Sportswire)

Sovereignty vs. Journalism

Coming into this year’s horse racing Triple Crown, Journalism was considered the clear standout in the 3-year-old division. But five weeks and three races later, it’s Sovereignty who reigns supreme in the sport, having beaten Journalism in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve and Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets this past weekend. Journalism did win the Preakness Stakes, the middle jewel of the Triple Crown, but Sovereignty was absent from that race. It’s entirely possible that these two powerhouses will meet up a few more times this summer and fall, potentially in the DraftKings Travers Stakes at Saratoga and then again at the World Championships of racing, the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic, at Del Mar in November.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander vs. Tyrese Haliburton

In an NBA Finals featuring two small-market teams, the both teams’ best player has outsized skill and personality that has made the series a must-watch. SGA, the recently crowned MVP, put up 34 points for the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 2 June 8 to even the series at one game apiece. The streakier, often hot-and-cold Haliburton, has maintained his own so far in the series, delivering another iconic game-winning shot to bring the Indiana Pacers back from the dead in the series opener. As a New York Knicks fan who slept on Indiana and Haliburton heading into the Eastern Conference Finals, my gut tells me the Pacers aren’t going to go down without a fight in these Finals. Ultimately, it might come down to which of the two superstars does just a little bit more to carry their team — and solidify their superstar-status —over the next week.

McIlroy recently won The Masters. (WikiMedia Commons/Shannon McGee)

Rory McIlroy vs. Bryson DeChambeau

On the eve of the 2025 U.S. Open, all eyes are on Rory and Bryson to see what unfolds following their epic showdown at Pinehurst last year. While DeChambeau edged out McIlroy at the 2024 US Open, Rory got his revenge just two months ago at Augusta, claiming his first Green Jacket at The Masters. Bryson is looking to add a third major championship to his resume and the first since last year’s U.S. Open. Rory has five majors to his credit. As expected, both Rory and Bryson will be two of the top four betting choices at this year’s U.S. Open which tees off Thursday at Oakmont Country Club in Pennsylvania.