Djokovic Backs Alcaraz’s Bid to Challenge 41‑Win Season Start Record

Analysts outline a demanding route through Indian Wells into the spring swing that would be required to approach the 41-win mark.

Overview

Carlos Alcaraz is 13-0 to open 2026 after titles at the Australian Open and Qatar Open and has reached the third round at Indian Wells.
Novak Djokovic, owner of the 2011 benchmark of 41 straight season-opening wins, said of Alcaraz’s chances, “He can do it.”
Alcaraz cautioned against the hype, noting that sustaining such a run across multiple marquee events is far tougher than it sounds.
Tennis365 calculates Alcaraz remains 27 wins from matching Djokovic’s mark and 28 from breaking it heading into the North American and European swings.
A projected pathway to surpass the record would require winning out at Indian Wells and Miami, then sweeping Monte Carlo, Barcelona, and Madrid, and adding wins in Rome.