Jannik Sinner may have given himself a crucial edge over Carlos Alcaraz at Indian Wells
Indian Wells could be where the storylines of Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz take a new turn in 2026, even if their seasons have started in very different ways.
Sinner has not quite found his footing yet this year. He has already been knocked out by Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open and fell again to Jakub Mensik at the Qatar Open.
Alcaraz, on the other hand, is off to a flying start. He has captured titles in both Melbourne and Doha and has pieced together an impressive 12-match unbeaten run to open the year.
Now, with both players set to feature at Indian Wells, Sinner may have found a way to seize some early momentum despite how things have played out so far.
How Jannik Sinner’s early arrival could play into his hands
Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
Sinner arrived in Indian Wells nearly a week ahead of the event, giving himself plenty of time to settle in, especially after a slow start to the season.
Alcaraz, on the other hand, was expected to arrive just three days before the main draw kicks off.
The early arrival could give Sinner a real boost as he looks to find his footing and kick-start his year properly.
The 24-year-old Italian has had more time to get used to the conditions of the Californian desert, which could help him settle quickly once play begins.
Alcaraz has sometimes started slowly at tournaments, and arriving later might not help him find his stride early on this time either.
While he’s generally comfortable in warmer conditions, changes to the balls being used at Indian Wells this year could play into Sinner’s hands after his extended practice period.
Jannik Sinner faces an adjustment to his coaching setup in Indian Wells
After a challenging start to the year, there is a fair bit of expectation on Sinner to find some form at Indian Wells.
This time around, he will be without coach Simone Vagnozzi, who will not be present for the tournament.
Darren Cahill will take over sole coaching duties as Sinner aims for his first title at Indian Wells.
The reason behind Vagnozzi’s absence has not been made clear, but he is expected back with the team for the Miami Open later in March.
Sinner has twice reached the semi-finals at Indian Wells – first in 2023 and again in 2024.
On both occasions, it was Alcaraz who ended his run at that stage of the tournament.