Nadal, Swiatek, Alcaraz and Rybakina nominated for 2023 Laureus World Sports Awards

The Spaniard has won the aureus World Sportsman of the Year Award twice in the past, in 20221 and 2011

Rafael Nadal, Iga Swiatek, Elena Rybakina and Carlos Alcaraz nominated for the 2023 Laureus Sports Awards Image Credit: JB Autissier/ Mao / Action Plus/ Imago / Panoramic/ Tennis Majors

Haresh Ramchandani

February 21, 2023

Tennis came up well represented when the nominations for the 2023 Laureus World Sports Awards were announced with Rafael Nadal, Iga Swiatek, Carlos Alcaraz and Elena Rybakina getting nods on Monday.

Nadal, who won his 21st and 22nd Grand Slam titles at the Australian Open and Roland-Garros last year and finished the season as world no 2, is up for Laureus World Sportsman of the Year Award. The Spaniard has won the honour twice in the past, in 20221 and 2011.

Nadal will go up against footballers Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, F1 driver Max Verstappen, pole vaulter Mondo Duplantis and basketballer Steph Curry in this category.

Women’s world No 1 Iga Swiatek, who dominated the WTA Tour winning eight titles including Roland-Garros and US Open, is nominated for the Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year award.

The 21-year-old Pole will battle it out against track and field athletes, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (100m), and Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (400m hurdles), swimmer Katie Ledecky, footballer Alexia Putellas and skiier Mikaela Shiffrin.

19-year-old Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz, who won the US Open in September and became the youngest world No 1 in history of the ATP Tour, and Russia’s Elena Rybakina, who won her first Grand Slam singles title at Wimbledon, are nominated for the Breakthrough of the Year Award.

The two tennis stars will square off against golfer Scottie Scheffler, the Morocco Men’s Football Team, figure skater Nathan Chen and 100m hurdler Tobi Amusan.

The Laureus Awards are held on behalf of the Laureus Sport for Good foundation and winners will be determined by the members of the Academy.