Carlos Alcaraz will have grand ambitions of maintaining his mesmeric start to the 2026 season, as he heads to Indian Wells, where he has twice lifted the trophy.
And whilst those triumphs were special, something feels different about the Spaniard this year.
He is sharper, more focused, and more consistently ruthless than ever. His start to the new campaign has proven this, winning the titles in both tournaments he has entered.
There has been no hangover for Alcaraz after his high-profile split with Juan Carlos Ferrero.
That being said, it still feels like the 22-year-old is adjusting to life without his former long-time coach.
Carlos Alcaraz speaks about being without Juan Carlos Ferrero
Speaking to Eurosport ahead of his latest campaign at the BNP Paribas Open, Carlos Alcaraz was asked about Ferrero once again.
And, whilst he admitted that things are obviously different, he also emphasised that he is continuing to push forward with a team he believes in.
Do you believe Carlos Alcaraz is already the greatest tennis player of all time?
Alcaraz claimed: “I would say it is what it is. Obviously, I wouldn’t say it’s a new team. It’s mostly the same members; we just restructured a little bit. The members are the same as before; we’re just missing one.
“Every time I come back to a tournament I played last year, it feels a little bit different. You can feel it a bit, but we try to feel as comfortable as possible on and off the court.”
Recently, Ferrero claimed he wanted to have a meeting with Alcaraz, suggesting that, despite both having gone their separate ways, he remains somewhat invested in his former pupil.
Carlos Alcaraz is thriving without Juan Carlos Ferrero
Whilst Alcaraz will likely attribute much of the success of his career thus far to Ferrero, what he has done since their split is nothing short of extraordinary.
In fact, it could be argued that he has ascended to another level, putting himself above even Jannik Sinner, his great rival, of late.
Which member of the ‘Big Three’ is Carlos Alcaraz most similar to? Let us know why below👇
He may have only played two tournaments in 2026, but won both with relative ease.
And, in claiming the first, Alcaraz became the youngest man ever to complete the career Grand Slam.
Already, the seven-time major champion is rewriting history, and with Sinner seemingly faltering early this year, it feels like an opportunity is emerging.
We could be about to see an all-time great season from Alcaraz if he maintains his current form and nobody rises to oppose him.
