{"id":1816346,"date":"2026-03-09T16:00:08","date_gmt":"2026-03-09T13:00:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1816346"},"modified":"2026-03-09T16:00:08","modified_gmt":"2026-03-09T13:00:08","slug":"can-carlos-alcaraz-really-break-one-of-novak-djokovics-greatest-atp-tour-records","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1816346","title":{"rendered":"Can Carlos Alcaraz really break one of Novak Djokovic&#8217;s greatest ATP Tour records?"},"content":{"rendered":"<article class=\"ps-article-content rounded-lg lg:mt-5 lg:border lg:border-card lg:bg-card lg:shadow-primary\">\n<header>\n<h1 class=\"py-4 text-xl font-normal text-title sm:text-2xl\">Can Carlos Alcaraz really break one of Novak Djokovic\u2019s greatest ATP Tour records?<\/h1>\n<div class=\"my-2 flex items-center justify-between\">\n<div class=\"flex items-center\">\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/author\/oli-dickson-jefford\" class=\"text-sm font-normal !text-author\"><br \/>\n                            Oli Dickson Jefford                        <\/a><br \/>\n                        <time class=\"ml-3 text-sm font-normal text-info md:ml-4\" datetime=\"09 Mar 2026 4:00 PM\" data-ps-date=\"09 Mar 2026 4:00 PM\" data-ps-datetime=\"1773072008\"><br \/>\n                            09 Mar 2026 4:00 PM                        <\/time>\n                    <\/div>\n<div class=\"hidden justify-end space-x-4 text-xl sm:flex sm:!opacity-100\">\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/google.com\/preferences\/source?q=tennis365.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\"><br \/>\n                            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"mx-auto !my-0 hidden dark:block h-6\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/content\/themes\/tennis365-sportsui\/img\/png\/common\/google_preferred_source_badge_dark@2x.png\" alt=\"Add as a preferred source on Google\" width=\"76\" height=\"24\"><br \/>\n           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<\/div>\n<div class=\"sm:hidden flex items-center space-x-5\">\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/google.com\/preferences\/source?q=tennis365.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\"><br \/>\n                            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"mx-auto !my-0 hidden dark:block h-6\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/content\/themes\/tennis365-sportsui\/img\/png\/common\/google_preferred_source_badge_dark@2x.png\" alt=\"Add as a preferred source on Google\" width=\"76\" height=\"24\"><br \/>\n                            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"mx-auto !my-0 dark:hidden h-6\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/content\/themes\/tennis365-sportsui\/img\/png\/common\/google_preferred_source_badge_light@2x.png\" alt=\"Add as a preferred source on Google\" width=\"76\" height=\"24\"><br \/>\n                        <\/a><br \/>\n                        <button id=\"t365-article-share-btn-hidden\" class=\"mr-2 hidden h-6 w-6 appearance-none border-none !text-share-icon outline-none hover:!text-share-icon-active sm:hidden\" data-title=\"Can Carlos Alcaraz really break one of Novak Djokovic\u2019s greatest ATP Tour records?\"><\/p>\n<p>                        <\/button>\n                    <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"-mx-3 sm:-mx-5 border-b border-page\"><\/div>\n<section>\n<div class=\"-mx-3 sm:-mx-5\">\n<figure class=\"aspect-h-9 aspect-w-16 relative\">\n                                        <img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1320\" height=\"742\" loading=\"eager\" class=\"w-full h-full object-cover object-center !my-0\" src=\"https:\/\/d2me2qg8dfiw8u.cloudfront.net\/content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Carlos-Alcaraz-fist-pump-1320x742.jpg\" alt=\"Pictured: A happy Carlos Alcaraz during his match\">                <\/figure><figcaption class=\"flex items-center space-x-3 border-b border-mobile-caption px-3 lg:border-caption\">\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"my-1.5 break-words !text-xs !text-content\">\n                                Carlos Alcaraz fist pump                            <\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<div class=\"ciam-article-t365\">\n<p>Carlos Alcaraz has embarked on a flawless start to his 2026 campaign, but how much longer can he keep his run going?<\/p>\n<p>The Spaniard has already triumphed at both the Australian Open and Qatar Open in 2026, and a confident win over Grigor Dimitrov in Indian Wells cemented his place as the tournament\u2019s title favourite.<\/p>\n<p>Many have questioned whether <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tag\/carlos-alcaraz\">Alcaraz<\/a> is capable of setting a new record for the longest unbeaten start to an ATP Tour season, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/atp-tour\/novak-djokovic-pays-carlos-alcaraz-huge-compliment-and-backs-him-to-break-demanding-record\">and current record holder Novak Djokovic has even suggested that the world No 1 could be in line to make history<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>However, when you look at the numbers behind<a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tag\/novak-djokovic\"> Djokovic\u2019s<\/a> record, the sheer magnitude of Alcaraz\u2019s task is easy for all to see.<\/p>\n<h2>What is the all-time record?<\/h2>\n<p>The all-time record was memorably set by Djokovic back in 2011, when the Serbian won the first 41 matches of his standout campaign.<\/p>\n<p>Djokovic won his first seven tournaments of the year \u2014 the Australian Open, Dubai, Indian Wells, Miami, Belgrade, Madrid, and Rome \u2014 and then reached the last four of Roland Garros, where Roger Federer snapped his remarkable streak.<\/p>\n<p>Alcaraz still has a long way to go to challenge Djokovic\u2019s milestone, and is still well off the next longest unbeaten start streaks.<\/p>\n<p>Prior to Djokovic, the record was held by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tag\/john-mcenroe\">John McEnroe<\/a>, who won his first 39 matches in 1984 \u2014 winning seven titles and two Davis Cup rubbers before falling to Ivan Lendl in the French Open final.<\/p>\n<h2>Tennis News<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/atp-tour\/carlos-alcaraz-jannik-sinner-compared-federer-nadal-djokovic-murray\">Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner\u2019s levels compared to \u2018Big 4\u2019 legends by leading coach<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tennis-news\/novak-djokovic-grand-slam-record-warning\">Novak Djokovic told he is \u2018a long way\u2019 from winning record breaking 25th Grand Slam title<\/a><\/p>\n<p>McEnroe technically won his first 42 matches of 1984, though his three wins at the Tennis Masters Cup (now ATP Finals) that January are counted as part of his 1983 campaign.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tag\/bjorn-borg\">Bjorn Borg<\/a> won his first 26 matches of the 1980 season and Djokovic won the first 26 matches of his 2020 campaign, ranking them joint-third in these standings.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tag\/ivan-lendl\">Ivan Lendl<\/a> won his first 25 matches of 1986, ranking him fifth in terms of longest unbeaten starts to a season, with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tag\/rafael-nadal\">Rafael Nadal\u2019s<\/a> 20-match win streak at the start of 2022 ranking him sixth.<\/p>\n<p>At the time of writing, Alcaraz is still seven wins away from matching Nadal\u2019s tally of 20, and becoming the sixth man to hit a 20-match win streak to start a season.<\/p>\n<h2>What is Alcaraz\u2019s pathway to breaking the record?<\/h2>\n<p>Alcaraz\u2019s win over Dimitrov on Saturday was his 13th win from as many matches in 2026, and victory over Arthur Rinderknech in round-three action on Monday would give him a 14th win of the season.<\/p>\n<p>However, that would still leave him a staggering 27 match wins from matching Djokovic\u2019s record, and 28 wins from breaking it.<\/p>\n<p>Ahead of his match against Rinderknech, and based on his expected schedule for the coming months, Alcaraz would need to do the following to break Djokovic\u2019s record:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Win his remaining five Indian Wells matches (18-0)<\/li>\n<li>Win six matches to lift the Miami Open title (24-0)<\/li>\n<li>Win five matches to lift the Monte Carlo Masters title (29-0)<\/li>\n<li>Win five matches to lift the Barcelona Open title (34-0)<\/li>\n<li>Win six matches to lift the Madrid Open title (40-0)<\/li>\n<li>Win two matches at the Italian Open (42-0)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>That does not factor in Alcaraz pulling out of any of those tournaments, either pre- or mid-event, and highlights the sheer magnitude of what Djokovic achieved in 2011.<\/p>\n<p>Alcaraz\u2019s start to 2026 is hugely impressive, but he is still some way off making history.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Want more from Tennis365? Add us as <a rel=\"noopener nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=tennis365.com\" target=\"_blank\">a preferred source on Google to your favourites list<\/a> for tennis coverage you can trust.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Read Next<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tennis-news\/carlos-alcaraz-jannik-sinner-scar-tissue\">Exclusive \u2013 How Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have left \u2018scar tissue\u2019 on their biggest rivals<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Can Carlos Alcaraz really break one of Novak Djokovic\u2019s greatest ATP Tour records? Oli Dickson Jefford 09 Mar 2026 4:00 PM Carlos Alcaraz fist pump Carlos Alcaraz has embarked on a flawless start to his 2026 campaign, but how much longer can he keep his run going? The Spaniard has already triumphed at both the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[226,249],"class_list":["post-1816346","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-crawlmanager","tag-tennis365-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1816346","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1816346"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1816346\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1816346"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1816346"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1816346"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}