Novak Djokovic's 2026 start: 'I've proven to myself & others, why not keep going?' Novak Djokovic is set to begin his 2026 tennis season at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, where he will face either Kamil Majchrzak or Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in his opening match. The Serbian star, who last reached a major final at Wimbledon 2024, returned to form with a strong performance at the Australian Open, advancing to the final where he faced World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz. Despite losing to Alcaraz in the championship match, Djokovic expressed confidence in his ability to compete at the highest level. Djokovic, 38, reflected on his Australian Open run during a pre-tournament press conference, calling it an "amazing start of the year." He highlighted his victory over Jannik Sinner in a five-set thriller as a key moment, emphasizing that beating Sinner after previous losses to him or Alcaraz at the Slams reaffirmed his competitiveness. "I have proven to myself primarily, and to others, that I can still compete at the highest level and beat these guys," he said. "My logic is why not keep going as long as I have that fire and flair and quality and also motivation to do that." The five-time Indian Wells champion is aiming to break Roger Federer's record for most titles at the event, which he currently shares. With a 51-11 tournament record, Djokovic praised the event's atmosphere, noting the "great weather, facilities, location, and proximity to L.A." as factors that make it a "Tennis Paradise." Seeded third for the tournament, Djokovic is excited about the challenge, stating, "I really enjoy the thrill of competition. I enjoy still getting out there in front of the fans and really being competitive.#novak_djokovic #indian_wells #kamil_majchrzak #bnpparibas_open #giovanni_mpetshi_perricard
