The pressureless sintering behavior of $Al_2O_3$/Cu powder mixtures, prepared from $Al_2O_3$/CuO and $Al_2O_3$/Cu-nitrate, has been investigated. Microstructural observation revealed that $Al_2O_3$ powders with nano-sized Cu particles could be synthesized by hydrogen reduction method. The specimens, pressureless-sintered at $1400^{circ}C$ for 4 min using infrared heating furnace with the heating rate of $200^{circ}C$/min, showed the relative density of above 90%. Maximum hardness of 16.1 GPa was obtained in $Al_2O_3$/MgO/Cu nanocomposites. The nanocomposites exhibited the enhanced fracture toughness of 4.3-5.7 $MPa{cdot}m^{1/2}$, compared with monolithic $Al_2O_3$. The mechanical properties were discussed in terms of microstructural characteristics.