Carlos Alcaraz continued his excellent start to the 2026 season with victory over Arthur Rinderknech on Monday.
After losing the opening set, Alcaraz roared back to claim a 6-7, 6-2, 6-2 victory over the Frenchman.
The pair shared a short conversation after the match, with Rinderknech joking that he does not want to play Alcaraz again.
Which member of the ‘Big Three’ is Carlos Alcaraz most similar to? Let us know why below👇
It was Alcaraz’s 14th consecutive win of the season, and he is looking to win a third consecutive title of the year in Indian Wells following triumphs in Melbourne and Doha.
With his latest victory, Alcaraz has once again entered the history books.
Carlos Alcaraz has surpassed Stan Wawrinka’s best start to an ATP season
By winning his 14th consecutive match to start the year, Carlos Alcaraz, at the age of 22, has already beaten Stan Wawrinka’s best ever start to an ATP season.
Wawrinka, a three-time Grand Slam champion, won 13 matches in a row to start the 2014 ATP season, winning the Chennai Open and Australian Open during this run.
Stan Wawrinka’s start to the 2014 ATP season
| Tournament | Opponent | Score |
| Chennai Open | Benjamin Becker | 6-3, 6-1 |
| Alijaz Bedene | 6–2, 6–1 | |
| Vasek Pospisil | 6–4, 5–5, ret | |
| Edouard Roger-Vasselin | 7–5, 6–2 | |
| Australian Open | Andrey Golubev | 6-4, 4-1, ret. |
| Alejandro Falla | 6–3, 6–3, 6–7(7–4), 6–4 | |
| Vasek Pospisil | WALKOVER | |
| Tommy Robredo | 6–3, 7–6(7–3), 7–6(7–5) | |
| Novak Djokovic | 2–6, 6–4, 6–2, 3–6, 9–7 | |
| Tomas Berdych | 6–3, 6–7(1–7), 7–6(7–3),7–6(7–4) | |
| Rafael Nadal | 6–3, 6–2, 3–6, 6–3 | |
| Davis Cup | Dusan Lajovic | 6–4, 4–6, 6–1, 7–6(9–7) |
| Indian Wells | Ivo Karlovic | 6–3, 7–5 |
| Andreas SeppI | 6-0, 6-2 |
Wawrinka beat some of the best players in the sport’s history during the winning run, including Rafael Nadal, Tomas Berdych and Novak Djokovic.
Wawrinka’s run was ended by Kevin Anderson, who beat the Swiss maestro 6–7, 6–4, 1–6 in the fourth round of Indian Wells.
Alcaraz has moved past Wawrinka and now has Roger Federer, Andre Agassi and Jannik Sinner in his sights.
Agassi, one of the only men to complete the ‘Career Grand Slam,’ recorded the sixth best start to an ATP season 1995 when he won 15 matches in a row.
Federer, meanwhile, recorded his best season in 2006 when he won 16 matches in a row to start the season.
Jannik Sinner equalled Federer’s record in 2024, winning the Australian Open during his own 16-match win streak.
Stan Wawrinka or Andy Murray… who is the greater player? Let us know why below 👇
The best start to an ATP season in tennis history
In 2011, Novak Djokovic recorded the most impressive start to a season in men’s tennis history.
The Serbian star won a stunning 41 consecutive matches to start the 2011 season.
Djokovic was undefeated from the start of the Australian Open to the French Open semi-finals, winning the Australian Open, Dubai Tennis Championships, Indian Wells, Miami Masters, Serbia Open, Madrid Masters and Rome Masters.
His run was ended by Roger Federer, who defeated Djokovic 6–7, 3–6, 6–3, 6–7 in the French Open semi-finals.
The best starts to ATP seasons in history…
| Streak | Player |
| 41 | Novak Djokovic (2011) |
| 26 | Novak Djokovic (2020) |
| 20 | Rafael Nadal (2022) |
| 17 | Novak Djokovic (2013), Roger Federer (2018), Pete Sampras (1997) |
| 16 | Roger Federer (2006), Jannik Sinner (2024) |
| 15 | Andre Agassi (1995), Novak Djokovic (2023) |
Djokovic ended the year with a 70-6 record on the ATP Tour. His 2011 season is widely regarded as one of the greatest in tennis history.
