Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka stood side by side on the Laureus World Sports Awards stage in Madrid on Monday night, each claiming the sport’s highest individual honours after dominant 2025 seasons that saw them finish atop the ATP and WTA rankings respectively.
Alcaraz, 22, became the fourth ATP Tour player to win the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year award, joining Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic after a season in which he captured eight titles, including the French Open and US Open, and finished with a 71-9 record. His victory over rival Jannik Sinner and other nominees such as Tadej Pogacar and Marc Marquez underscored a year defined by consistency at the sport’s summit.
Sabalenka, meanwhile, became the fifth WTA Tour player to receive the Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year award, capping a 52-week stint as World No. 1 highlighted by her US Open triumph and a 12-match winning streak heading into the Mutua Madrid Open. She described the moment as giving her “goosebumps,” noting the emotional weight of joining a list that includes Serena Williams, Simone Biles and Naomi Osaka.
Their dual success marked a rare sweep for tennis at the Laureus ceremony, a feat last seen in 2021 when Rafael Nadal and Naomi Osaka won the top awards. That year, Nadal’s clay-court dominance and Osaka’s resilience on hard courts reflected a similar split-surface excellence now mirrored by Alcaraz’s mastery on both red clay and hard courts and Sabalenka’s all-court power game.
Alcaraz edges Sinner in tight race for Sportsman of the Year
The battle for the men’s award came down to Alcaraz and Sinner, who pushed each other throughout 2025 in a rivalry that defined the ATP Tour’s upper echelon. While Sinner matched Alcaraz in consistency and reached the Nitto ATP Finals final, the Spaniard’s edge came from his Grand Slam haul and mastery across surfaces — winning on clay in Paris and Rome, and on hard courts in New York and Cincinnati.
Alcaraz’s victory also made him the youngest male tennis player to win the Laureus Sportsman of the Year award since Nadal in 2011, reinforcing his status as the sport’s emerging standard-bearer. His earlier Laureus Breakthrough of the Year win in 2023 now frames a rapid ascent from teenage prodigy to global ambassador for the sport.
Sabalenka breaks through emotional barrier to claim Sportswoman honour
For Sabalenka, the award represented validation of a season built on mental resilience as much as physical dominance. After years of struggling with serve consistency and emotional volatility on court, her 2025 campaign showed a transformed player — one who held the top ranking for every week of the year and won her second US Open title with composure under pressure.
Her win over nominees such as Faith Kipyegon and Katie Ledecky highlighted the breadth of the Laureus field, yet her triumph carried particular resonance in tennis, where she became the first player from the WTA Tour Driven by Mercedes-Benz era to win the award since Serena Williams in 2015. The presentation by Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Boris Becker added a symbolic bridge between generations of sporting excellence.
McIlroy’s Masters win earns Comeback of the Year recognition
Rory McIlroy completed golf’s career Grand Slam with a playoff victory at the 2025 Masters, ending an 11-year wait and securing the Laureus World Comeback of the Year award. His win, defended by a single shot margin, was described by McIlroy as emotionally significant precisely because of the long journey — marked by near-misses, public scrutiny and self-doubt — that preceded it.
The award underscored how the Laureus Academy values not just peak performance, but the narrative of overcoming adversity. McIlroy’s triumph joined a list that includes Tiger Woods’ 2019 Masters win, which also received Comeback of the Year honours after a period of personal and professional struggle.
Norris and PSG capture Breakthrough and Team honours
Beyond the individual tennis accolades, Formula One’s Lando Norris won the World Breakthrough of the Year award after a standout 2025 season that included his first Grand Prix victory and consistent podium finishes. Paris Saint-Germain took the World Team of the Year honour following a historic season in which they secured the Ligue 1 title, Coupe de France and their first UEFA Champions League crown.
The breadth of winners across tennis, golf, motorsport and football illustrated the Laureus Awards’ mandate to recognise excellence beyond traditional powerhouses, while also highlighting how individual and team success can coexist in a single ceremony.
What did Carlos Alcaraz win at the 2026 Laureus World Sports Awards?
Carlos Alcaraz won the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year award for his 2025 season, in which he captured eight ATP Tour titles including the French Open and US Open, and finished as year-end World No. 1.
How did Aryna Sabalenka react to winning the Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year award?
Aryna Sabalenka said she had “goosebumps” and felt emotional upon receiving the award, describing it as surreal to see her name alongside legends such as Serena Williams and Simone Biles.
Why did Rory McIlroy receive the Laureus World Comeback of the Year award?
Rory McIlroy won the Laureus World Comeback of the Year award after completing his career Grand Slam with a playoff victory at the 2025 Masters, ending an 11-year wait to capture all four major golf championships.