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

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!!”

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.

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).

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