Carlos Alcaraz’s X-rated reply as crazy Novak Djokovic reality dawns on Spaniard | Tennis | Sport
Carlos Alcaraz has returned to Indian Wells on a high. The world No. 1 has not lost a match this year, going 12-0 and lifting trophies at the Australian Open and the ATP 500 event in Doha. The Spaniard also has great memories in the Californian desert, winning the title there in 2023 and 2024, and will be the favourite to reclaim the crown again this year.
But Alcaraz has a very long way to go before he can break Novak Djokovic’s record for the longest unbeaten run to start a season. Back in 2011, the Serbian superstar went 41-0 and won all of his matches until the French Open semi-finals in June, and the stark reality of Djokovic’s incredible run has now dawned on his young rival, who gave an X-rated response when quizzed about the record.
“Yeah, obviously I know that 41, Novak holds the record. I’m gonna say, you don’t realise how difficult it is until you, I’m gonna say, you’re chasing that, because, you know, all right, 41, it’s not that much, but then you’re like 12 on, it’s like, shit, it’s like four or five more tournaments, the biggest tournaments in the world,” he laughed.
“You realise and you feel like how impressive it is. You know, I just really proud about my start of the year. Hopefully the winning streak continues or I would try that, but I just happy to see myself playing great tennis.”
Should Alcaraz win Indian Wells, he’d make it 18-0 for the year so far, still no match for 24-time Major winner Djokovic. But the 22-year-old is still hopeful that he can keep winning for as long as possible.
The Spanish star’s run didn’t just start at the beginning of 2026. Since he lost his opening match at the Miami Open 12 months ago, Alcaraz has reached at least the finals in 12 of his last 13 tournaments, the exception being the Paris Masters. And he believes the real improvement has been mental.
Alcaraz explained: “I think on the court I just control my emotions even better. I would say that was the key of, you know, the good level of tennis that I have been playing lately, because on the court, I just control myself, and in a calm place I can find the solutions and I can go through.
“When I was getting mad or when I was playing bad or whatever, I just found the right way again, because I was calm, I was controlling myself and controlling my emotions and I was maintaining my good focus. I would say I was doing that even better than before.”
The No. 1 seed in Indian Wells has a bye directly into the second round where he faces either Terence Atmane or Grigor Dimitrov. Last year, Alcaraz lost to eventual champion Jack Draper in the semi-finals, and he’ll be keen to get his hands on a third trophy in California.
