California : Carlos Alcaraz will put his perfect start to the season on the line at Indian Wells this week, while top seed Aryna Sabalenka looks to regroup after her Australian Open disappointment.
Alcaraz arrives in the Southern California desert fresh from completing the career Grand Slam in Melbourne and carrying a 12-0 record in 2026. The 22-year-old Spaniard is already a two-time champion at the prestigious hard-court event and could be on course for another blockbuster meeting with rival Jannik Sinner in what has become one of the sport’s most compelling match-ups.
“What’s interesting about Carlos and Jannik is that whenever one gains an edge, the other goes away, figures things out, and comes back better,” Tennis Channel analyst Prakash Amritraj told Reuters this week.
Novak Djokovic, meanwhile, continues to defy expectations in the twilight of his career. The 24-times Grand Slam champion stunned Sinner with a five-set comeback victory in Melbourne and remains a contender at the biggest tournaments.
“Djokovic managed to move the unmovable mountain that is Jannik Sinner,” Amritraj said. “To come from behind in five sets, while also making the semis of all four majors last year, is hard to put into words.”
Djokovic, who shares the record for most Indian Wells titles with Roger Federer, can claim a standalone mark with a sixth trophy at the tournament.
Sabalenka seeks reset
On the women’s side, Sabalenka returns to competition for the first time since her bid for a third Australian Open crown was ended by Elena Rybakina.
Despite several painful defeats in finals, Sabalenka has been the most consistent performer in a volatile WTA landscape, reaching five of the last six Grand Slam finals.
“Sabalenka has been the most consistent player at that level,” Amritraj said. “She hasn’t always crossed the finish line, but in my mind she is still the clear number one. Regardless of that loss to Rybakina in Australia, she’s my favourite here.”
The ATP Masters 1000 and WTA 1000 main draws at Indian Wells, officially known as the BNP Paribas Open, begin on Wednesday.
