Alcaraz is chasing and surpassing Sinner's 16-match winning streak at the start of the 2024 season.

In the 2026 season, world number one and versatile Spanish player Alcaraz leads the pack with an impressive 12-match winning streak to start the year, having claimed two titles and shining brilliantly.

World number one Alcaraz arrived in Melbourne without any warm-up, sweeping his opponents in straight sets in the first five rounds; in the semifinal, after winning the first two sets, he battled through injury to stage a tough comeback in five hours and 27 minutes against Germany’s powerhouse Zverev; in the final, he staged another comeback, losing the first set but winning the next three to defeat Australian Open ten-time champion and 24-time Grand Slam winner Djokovic, claiming his first Australian Open title. At 22 years and 272 days old, Alcaraz became the youngest player since the Open Era began in 1968 to win seven Grand Slam titles, as well as the youngest male player ever to complete a career Grand Slam.

After two weeks of rest and training, Alcaraz returned last week to lead the field at the ATP 500 Doha tournament. While world number two and Italy's rising star Sinner unexpectedly fell short, losing in the quarterfinals to Czech newcomer Menšík (born in 2005), Alcaraz reaffirmed his status as a top player and defended his world number one ranking with honor. In the quarterfinals, he came back to defeat Russian champion Khachanov, the last winner of the 2024 ATP 250 Doha event; in the semifinals, he won in straight sets against Russian golden boy Rublev, the 2025 ATP 500 Doha champion; in the final, he dominated French young talent Fils with a decisive 6-2, 6-1 victory in just 50 minutes, earning his first ATP 500 Doha title.

This week, Alcaraz is resting and training, preparing to head to the United States next week for the North American "Sunshine Double" at Indian Wells and Miami Masters. The Sunshine Double has been a lucky ground for Alcaraz, holding fond memories. This year, at the Indian Wells Masters, he aims to chase and surpass world number two and Italy’s rising star Sinner’s 16-match winning streak from the 2024 season start.

In the 2024 season, Italy’s rising star Sinner finally exploded onto the scene. He fought fiercely in the Australian Open semifinal against ten-time champion and 24-time Grand Slam winner Djokovic, winning this historic match; then in the Australian Open final, he pulled off a stunning comeback, overcoming a two-set deficit to defeat Russian star Medvedev and claim his first Grand Slam title. Following this, Sinner won five consecutive matches to take the ATP 500 Rotterdam title, extending his 2024 winning streak to 12. Entering the Indian Wells Masters with two early-season titles, Sinner won four straight matches to reach the semifinals, extending his streak to 16 wins. At this point, Spain’s versatile warrior Alcaraz emerged, battling Sinner in a three-set semifinal at Indian Wells and overturning him, ending Sinner’s 16-match winning streak to start the 2024 season.

The North American Sunshine Double truly is Alcaraz’s lucky ground. In 2022 at Indian Wells, Alcaraz reached his first Masters semifinal in his career, losing a tough three-set battle to fellow countryman and Spanish legend Nadal. In the back-to-back Miami Masters, Alcaraz captured the title, becoming the youngest champion in Miami Masters history at just under 19 years old.

In 2023 and 2024, Alcaraz won the Indian Wells Masters titles consecutively; in 2025, aiming for his first Masters three-peat, he faced stiff resistance from British young talent Draper in the semifinals and was defeated in three sets.

At the 2026 North American Sunshine Double, Alcaraz returns with a 12-match winning streak and two titles, determined to reclaim his territory and relive past glories. Watch as Alcaraz chases and surpasses Sinner’s 16-match winning streak from the 2024 season start at Indian Wells Masters, and then creates even greater achievements.

(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Qicai Doufen)