Carlos Alcaraz will look to continue his hot streak in California after starting the 2026 season 12-0.
Earlier this year, the Spaniard became the youngest player in history to complete the ‘Career Grand Slam’ in men’s singles events after beating Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open final.
He then continued his fine form in Doha, winning the Qatar Open.
Alcaraz is the best player on the Tour and undoubtedly one of the best Spanish players in tennis history, despite only being 22 years old.
Do you believe Carlos Alcaraz is already the greatest tennis player of all time?
Ahead of his opening match in Indian Wells, Alcaraz has identified another promising Spanish talent who is emerging as a potential star on the Tour.
Carlos Alcaraz ‘really likes’ Rafael Jodar
Rafael Jodar is an emerging star.
The Spaniard, 19, is a former US Open junior champion and is already ranked 103rd on the ATP Tour.
Jodar, who competed at the 2025 Next Gen Finals, recently demonstrated his star potential by beating Cameron Norrie 6-3, 6-2 at the Acapulco Open.
The youngster has already experienced training with his compatriot Carlos Alcaraz, acting as a hitting partner for the world number one during the 2024 Davis Cup.
Jodar also practiced with Alcaraz ahead of the 2026 Australian Open.
Speaking about his Spanish compatriot ahead of Indian Wells, Alcaraz revealed what he likes most about the young star.
“Well, yeah, I got to know him a couple of years ago, sparring in the Davis Cup,” Alcaraz told reporters in California. “Then I saw his achievement in the juniors tour, so I just practice with him.
“In the Davis Cup, not that much, but I could feel the rhythm and then a couple years after that, he just come to the tour, like, and playing such great tennis in the challengers, going through in the challenger tour like really quick, winning a few of them, position himself in a good ranking.
What do you think is Carlos Alcaraz’s best surface and why?
“I really like him. I really like the way that he plays. No fear. Having no respect to anybody when he step in the court. Off the court he’s a really nice guy. Have huge respect to everybody who’s in the tour.
“But once he step in the court, he believes in himself and he believes and he can beat anybody.
“So that’s what I like the most to him, and for me, it’s not surprising at all how good he’s doing in the tour and how far he’s breaking in the tour and being close to the top 100.
“We’re gonna see like more of Rafa in couple of years, or I just hope that.”
Rafael Jodar beat Carlos Alcaraz in a practice set ahead of the Australian Open
After practicing with Alcaraz ahead of the first major of the year, Jodar spoke to Spanish radio station El Partizado de COPE about his experience.
During the interview, Jodar revealed that he had won a practice set against the world number one.
“It was great, a very interesting training session, he is an excellent person,” Jodar said.
“I think he was a bit tired after the exhibition in South Korea because we played a set and I was leading 5-4 when we finished.”
Rafael Jodar’s Indian Wells draw
Jodar has been handed a wildcard for Indian Wells, and he will face Chilean player Alejandro Tabilo in the first round.
Jodar has never played Tabilo, who recently defeated Joao Fonseca on his way to the Rio Open final.
If Jodar were to defeat Tabilo, he would face 11th seed Daniil Medvedev in the second round.
Playing Medvedev would be a great test for the young Spaniard. Medvedev is a Grand Slam champion who – after a difficult 2025 campaign – has re-captured his title winning form.
The Russian, seeded 11th in California, has won the Brisbane International and Dubai Tennis Championships so far this year.
