Carlos Alcaraz hasn’t lost in 2026 and the Spaniard hopes to extend his winning streak to 13 when he meets Grigor Dimitrov in Tennis Paradise. 

Is there a shot those two don't have?

Their eye-catching tussle at Stadium 1 kicks off our three matches to watch Saturday, with Novak Djokovic and Elena Rybakina also playing their first matches this edition. 

Carlos Alcaraz vs Grigor Dimitrov 

Given his sizzling start to the season, Alcaraz was asked whether he was thinking about Djokovic’s mammoth 41-match winning streak to start 2011. 

His reply? Not really. 

“I’m just really proud about my start of the year,” the 22-year-old told the media. “Hopefully the winning streak continues or I would try (for) that, but I’m just happy to see myself playing great tennis.”

After becoming the youngest man to complete his Grand Slam collection and triumphing in Doha, Alcaraz turns his attention to landing a third crown in Indian Wells. 

In Dimitrov, though, he landed an especially tough opener. 

Injuries have led to the Bulgarian’s ranking dropping outside the Top 40 but he told Tennis Channel that his “body is healthy” after beating Terence Atmane on Thursday.

Dimitrov only won two games against Alcaraz last year in the desert in round four but beat him 6-2, 6-4 in Miami in 2024. He dazzled that day in part two of the Sunshine Double, slamming 24 winners and only making 14 unforced errors. 

“He’s just crushing the ball,” Dimitrov, 34, said of the world No. 1. “I love him. But at the same time, these are the moments where the fun part begins. 

“You never know how the match will unfold. I believe if I do the right things and cut down on a few mistakes here and there, something good can come out of it.”

Novak Djokovic vs Kamil Majchrzak

Djokovic didn’t need to be reminded about his recent record in Tennis Paradise. He brought it up himself when speaking with reporters this week. 

“I haven't had great results and performances in the last 10 years,” said the 24-time Grand Slam winner. 

Lucky loser Botic van de Zandschulp beat him in the second round last year and another lucky loser, Luca Nardi, topped him in round three in 2024. Djokovic's last quarterfinal came in 2016, the year he bagged a record-tying fifth title in Indian Wells.

Djokovic, too, has not played since losing to Alcaraz in the Australian Open final, skipping Doha due to fatigue. 

Could all that help his opponent, Kamil Majchrzak? The world No. 57 from Poland, who said in an interview with the ATP that he once practiced with Djokovic, bids for a second career Top 10 win. 

He has come close to authoring notable scalps this year, leading two-time desert finalist Daniil Medvedev by a set in the Brisbane quarterfinals and Arthur Fils by a set in Doha's first round.

Medvedev eventually won the title in Brisbane and Fils made the final in Doha, losing to Alcaraz. 

Elena Rybakina vs Hailey Baptiste 

Rybakina has already won in Indian Wells this year — in the Eisenhower Cup. She repeated alongside Taylor Fritz in the always fun mixed doubles event. 

Now it is time for Rybakina to take to the stage in singles, where she has especially flourished.

The 2023 champ in the desert started the season by winning her second major at the Australian Open, though had to retire due to illness in her last event in Dubai. 

“It was a tough schedule after Australia,” Rybakina said. “I wanted to keep on playing, but then got sick in between. So it was not easy to keep on going. After, I took some days off and started my preparation. Now I'm feeling good.”

Rybakina overcame Saturday’s challenger, Hailey Baptiste, in straight sets in Canada last July.

Baptiste also retired in Dubai (abdominal) but rebounded in the first round in Indian Wells, rallying from a break down in the third to beat Emiliana Arango. 

The world No. 43 from Washington, D.C., possesses a varied game (think Karolina Muchova) and like Majchrzak, tries for a second Top 10 victory. 

In her last two encounters against the Top 10, Baptiste stretched Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula to third sets.