TENNIS: Alcaraz defends perfect start as Sabalenka seeks reset at Indian Wells

INDIAN WELLS, California – Carlos Alcaraz aims to continue his flawless start to the season, while top-seeded Aryna Sabalenka looks to bounce back from Australian Open disappointment as the Indian Wells tournament gets underway this week.

Alcaraz arrives in the Southern California desert fresh off completing a career Grand Slam in Melbourne, carrying an unbeaten 12-0 record for 2026. The 22-year-old Spaniard, already a two-time champion at the prestigious event, could face another high-profile showdown with rival Jannik Sinner in what has become one of tennis’ most compelling matchups.

"What's interesting about Carlos and Jannik is that whenever one gains an edge, the other figures things out and comes back better," Tennis Channel analyst Prakash Amritraj told Reuters this week.

Meanwhile, Novak Djokovic continues to defy expectations late in his career. The Serbian star stunned Sinner with a gritty five-set comeback in Melbourne and remains a dominant force at the biggest events.

"Djokovic managed to move the unmovable mountain that is Jannik Sinner," Amritraj said. "Coming from behind in five sets, while also reaching the semifinals of all four majors last year, is hard to put into words."

Djokovic, a 24-time Grand Slam champion who has rewritten much of tennis history, could break his tie with Roger Federer for the most Indian Wells titles if he lifts a sixth trophy.

Sabalenka Looks to Rebound

On the women’s side, Belarusian power-hitter Sabalenka returns to action after her bid for a third Australian Open title was halted by Elena Rybakina. Despite several painful losses in finals, Sabalenka has been one of the most consistent players in a frequently unpredictable WTA landscape, reaching five of the past 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 she is still the clear number one in my mind. Regardless of that loss to Rybakina in Australia, she’s my favorite here."

The Masters 1000 and WTA 1000 main draws at Indian Wells, officially known as the BNP Paribas Open, begin on Wednesday.

-Reporting by Rory Carroll in Indian Wells, California; Editing by Ken Ferris/Reuters