‘It’s crazy!’ Alcaraz wins Laureus Breakthrough of the Year Award – and meets Lionel Messi

The Spaniard is the seventh tennis player to win the Laureus Breakthrough of the Year Award

Carlos Alcaraz with the Laureus Breakthrough of the Year award in Paris

Carlos Alcaraz at the 2023 Laureus World Sports Awards in Paris Image Credit: Federico Pestellini / Panoramic

May 9, 2023

Reigning US Open champion Carlos Alcaraz won the Laureus Breakthrough of the Year Award on Monday in a star-studded ceremony in Paris.

Alcaraz had a spectacular rise in the rankings in 2022, winning the US Open as a teenager and climbing to the world No 1 spot to become the youngest player to top the men’s world rankings. He also won the Miami and Madrid Masters Series events in 2022.

Currently ranked No 2, Alcaraz defended his Madrid Masters title on Sunday and is projected to return to the top of the world rankings on May 22nd at the end of the Rome Masters.

“A very special night in Paris!! Thank you for this Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year Award! “, Alcaraz wrote on Twitter. “Thank you to the academy and everyone who made this possible. And of course congratulations to all the winners and nominees!!”

A very special night in Paris! 🏆😍 Thank you for this Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year Award! 😊Thank you to the academy and everyone who made this possible. And of course congratulations to all the winners and nominees! 😘 #Laureus23 pic.twitter.com/BOt0CNL8bp
— Carlos Alcaraz (@carlosalcaraz) May 8, 2023

Alcaraz follows in the footsteps of other tennis players who have won this prestigious award. Last year, Britain’s Emma Raducanu won the award following her stunning run to the US Open title as a qualifier in 2021. Previously, Marat Safin (2001), Rafael Nadal (2006), Amelie Mauresmo (2017), Andy Murray (2013) and Naomi Osaka (2019) had also won the award.

The Spaniard thanked his team and his family for supporting him through all the hard times during his acceptance speech on stage.

"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 have this Award means a lot to me"

2023 Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year Award Winner, @carlosalcaraz #Laureus23 pic.twitter.com/4njyYnakQO
— Laureus (@LaureusSport) May 8, 2023

Other tennis players who were nominated for the Laureus awards thus year included Elena Rybakina (Breakthrough of the Year), Rafael Nadal (World Sportsman of the Year), Iga Swiatek (World Sportswoman of the Year) and Diede de Groot (World Sportsperson of the Year).