Carlos Alcaraz explains how he feels about Jannik Sinner not being at Indian Wells this year

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Carlos Alcaraz is looking to continue his winning streak at Indian Wells this year without one of his biggest rivals being present.

Alcaraz will be bidding for Indian Wells history this year, as he looks to achieve something that even Rafael Nadal has not done before.

The world number three has had a mixed season so far, with Alcaraz winning his 17th title in Rotterdam.

However, after making his debut at the Qatar Open, Alcaraz lost to Jiri Lehecka to bring an end to his winning run.

Despite this setback, Alcaraz has been nominated for an award at a prestigious sports ceremony for the first time in his career.

With the 21-year-old looking to move on from the defeat in Doha, Alcaraz has been practising at Indian Wells with a fellow young player.

Carlos Alcaraz explains how he feels about Jannik Sinner not being at Indian Wells

Although he is the world number three, Alcaraz is the second seed at Indian Wells this year after his rival Jannik Sinner was banned for three months.

This came as a result of Sinner testing positive for the banned substance clostebol, that actually came at Indian Wells last year.

Alcaraz has previously spoken about Sinner’s ban, and was asked in his pre-tournament press conference at Indian Wells about how it felt not to have the world number one at the tournament.

“Jannik’s not playing, but there are a lot of the best players in the world (that) are playing here,” said Alcaraz.

“I think the draw is really open. I’m just focused on my things, on myself, and I try to play good tennis here.”

At Indian Wells last year, Alcaraz ended Sinner’s 19-match winning streak in the Indian Wells semi-finals before going onto win his second title in California.

Carlos Alcaraz gives his verdict on Indian Wells changing the courts

Sinner being absent is not the only unfamiliar thing at the Masters 1000 tournament this year, with Indian Wells changing the surface of the courts after 25 years.

When asked about this change, Alcaraz explained that he was unsure as to why Indian Wells decided to do this.

“Honestly, it’s a change that I didn’t understand when I saw it,” admitted Alcaraz. “It was 25 years, the tournament, it was the same court, and then right now has changed. I don’t know the reason why they did it.”

Alcaraz will look to extend his 12-match Indian Wells winning streak, when he plays the winner of the match between Quentin Halys and Pablo Carreno Busta on Saturday March 8.