Carlos Alcaraz was recognised at the Laureus Awards for an amazing 2022, as he claimed the first Grand Slam of his career at the US Open and four other ATP titles. He has continued his progress in 2023 after retaining the Madrid Open and becoming only the second player to do so after compatriot Rafael Nadal. Alcaraz has already won titles in Buenos Aires, Indian Wells and Barcelona in 2023.
Carlos Alcaraz paid tribute to his family and team after coming through “hard times” to win the 2023 Laureus World Breakthough of the Year Award.
The world No. 2 was recognised for his stellar achievements at the prestigious ceremony in Paris on Monday fresh after successfully retaining the Madrid Open a day earlier.
Alcaraz has won 10 career titles, including the 2022 US Open, where he became the tournament’s youngest winner since Pete Sampras in 1990.
That achievement also ensured Alcaraz became the youngest man to win any Grand Slam since Rafael Nadal in 2005, and the youngest-ever ATP world No. 1.
In his acceptance speech, Alcaraz said: “In my sport, I’m alone in the court, but there’s a team behind me and without them it would not be possible.
“I’d like to thank them for everything we’ve been doing together and all the sacrifices and pain we go through.
“There have been some hard times. The truth is that being able to overcome them with the support of my team and my family and to be able to win and to have this award means a lot to me.”
Alcaraz’s achievements have set the world of tennis alight and his latest triumph in Madrid means he is alongside only Nadal as one of two players to retain the title.
The comparisons to the 22-time Grand Slam winner continue given that the 20-year-old became the youngest player to retain an ATP Masters 1000 title since Nadal.
Alcaraz has already won four titles in 2023 after emerging victorious in Buenos Aires, Indian Wells, Barcelona and Madrid.
Bjorn Borg believes the sky is the limit for what Alcaraz can achieve and says he expects him to get back to world No. 1 and remain there for a long time.
“After this week he’s going to be No. 1 in the world, and I think he’s going to be staying there for many years,” Borg said.
“The way he plays, the way he moves, I like the whole game. No weaknesses.”
Alcaraz is playing at the Italian Open this week and needs to only play one match to ensure he will overtake Novak Djokovic as world No. 1.
Among the other sport stars honoured at the Laureus Awards was Lionel Messi, who was named World Sportsman of the Year award, while his Argentina side claimed the Team of the Year prize.
Elsewhere, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce was named Sportswoman of the Year following her 100m success in the World Athletics Championships last July.
Manchester United and Denmark international midfielder Christian Eriksen was the Comeback of the Year award, while other winners on the night included Catherine Debrunner, Eileen Gu, and TeamUp.
