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
Kamil Majchrzak excited for 'PlayStation' Novak Djokovic challenge: 'You want to learn from the best' Kamil Majchrzak, a Polish tennis player ranked World No. 57, expressed his excitement about facing Novak Djokovic in their first-ever match. The encounter will take place in the second round of the BNP Paribas Open as part of the Lexus ATP Head2Head series. Majchrzak, who has climbed as high as No. 55 in the PIF ATP Rankings, described the opportunity to compete against Djokovic as a significant milestone in his career. Majchrzak recalled a memorable moment from 2022 when he trained with Djokovic at Wimbledon. He emphasized the Serbian’s exceptional skill, precision, and preparation, calling his practice sessions “top tier.” “The way he practises, how careful he is with any move he makes and how precise, everything is just top tier,” Majchrzak said. He aims to apply the lessons from that experience to his upcoming match against Djokovic. Djokovic, a record 40-time ATP Masters 1000 champion and tied with Roger Federer for the most Indian Wells titles, is known for his consistency and adaptability. Majchrzak highlighted Djokovic’s ability to play any ball from any position, noting his “incredible ball speed and quality” and “robotic” precision. “It is not easy to get the advantage against him,” he admitted. Majchrzak, a nine-time ATP Challenger Tour champion, has been working with coach Christopher Kas since September 2024. Kas has helped him refine his approach, particularly in critical moments. Majchrzak explained his focus on taking more initiative on the court, moving away from letting opponents dictate play. “My main focus has been to take more action into my hands and play myself instead of letting the play go and just run and hit,” he said.#novak_djokovic #kamil_majchrzak #bnpparibas_open #lexus_atp_head2head #atp_challenger_tour
