Laureus Awards 2026: Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka Named Best Athletes of the Year
At the Laureus World Sports Awards 2026 held in Madrid, world No. 1 tennis stars Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka received the top honors.
They were named Sportsman of the Year and Sportswoman of the Year, respectively.
Major Achievement for Alcaraz
The 22-year-old Carlos Alcaraz earned the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year award after winning both the French Open and the US Open, finishing the year as the world No. 1 player.
After receiving the award, Alcaraz said that the honor is special for him as it places him alongside legends like Lionel Messi, Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, and Rafael Nadal.
Sabalenka’s Dominant Year
Aryna Sabalenka secured the Sportswoman of the Year award after maintaining the world No. 1 ranking throughout 2025 and successfully defending her US Open title.
She stated that the award represents not just victory, but also the hard work and resilience required to perform under pressure.