Carlos Alcaraz followed in the footsteps of the ‘Big 3’ of tennis as he was named the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year on Monday. The Spaniard beat out rival and World No. 1 Jannik Sinner to win the prestigious award.
Currently sidelined with an injury, Alcaraz enjoyed a trophy-laden 2025 on the ATP Tour. He won the French Open and the US Open last year, alongside six other trophies.
Carlos Alcaraz Beats Out Rival Jannik Sinner for Prestigious Award
Alcaraz and Sinner were nominated for the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year award alongside French soccer player Ousmane Dembélé, pole vaulter Mondo Duplantis, cycling star Tadej Pogačar, and MotoGP rider Marc Márquez.
It was Alcaraz who won the award, becoming the fourth tennis player to achieve the honor. Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic have each won the award five times, while Rafael Nadal has won it twice.
In his acceptance speech, Alcaraz thanked his fellow nominees and congratulated them on their achievements. He called 2025 an “unforgettable” year for him and said that the award was “emotional” for him.
“Winning two Grand Slams and finishing the year as the world No. 1 is something I dreamt about since I was a little kid. When I look back, I do not only think about the trophies and the results but also the journey, the work, the difficult moments, the people who stayed by my side and everything I learned,” he said while accepting the award.
Your 2026 Laureus World Sportsman of The Year 👏@LaureusSport | #Laureus26 pic.twitter.com/rbf2UxTEdc
— ATP Tour (@atptour) April 20, 2026
The 2026 Laureus Awards ceremony is being held in Madrid, and Alcaraz’s family was in attendance to watch him win the award. His mother, father, brothers, and agent all attended the ceremony.
Alcaraz also thanked his family and coaches for their support throughout the process.
“I want to thank my family and team. I’m lucky to have them here from the bottom of my heart. They are with me through the good moments and especially the tough ones. They help me to grow as a player and as a person. This award belongs to them too,” he said.
Alcaraz on the @LaureusSport red carpet🎙️:
“I believe that family is the most important thing a person has, and I’m so happy that they can be here for such an important and beautiful moment in my career and in my life” pic.twitter.com/8mxWv5Ggh2
— Alcaraz Updates🐝 (@alcarazzupdates) April 20, 2026
Alcaraz arrived at the ceremony sporting a brace on his injured right wrist. The Spaniard suffered his injury during the first round of the Barcelona Open and has been ruled out of the Madrid Open as a result. The injury has also put his participation in the French Open into doubt.
Tennis was well represented at the 2026 Laureus Awards. Novak Djokovic hosted the ceremony, while Aryna Sabalenka was nominated for the World Sportswoman of the Year award, Amanda Anisimova was nominated for World Comeback of the Year, and João Fonseca was nominated for the World Breakthrough of the Year award.
