After yet another spectacular season that saw both of them split the four Major titles and continue their duopoly on tour, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have been rewarded with nominations for the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year Award in 2026.
This marks the second nomination in this category for Alcaraz, who was also selected last year. For Sinner, it is his first official appearance among the final nominees. Although he was initially selected last year, his nomination was later cancelled by the Laureus World Sports Academy due to his doping case.
Alcaraz’s Historic 2025 Season
While “SinCaraz” were nearly inseparable in terms of level throughout last season, it was Alcaraz who ultimately finished the year ranked No. 1. He achieved that on the back of a historic stretch from Monte Carlo to Tokyo, where he reached nine consecutive tournament finals and won seven of them.
That run included two Major titles, both secured by defeating Sinner in the final. At the French Open, Alcaraz produced a miraculous comeback, while at the US Open, he delivered arguably the highest-quality match of his career.
He has carried that momentum into 2026. Alcaraz has opened the season with twelve consecutive victories, capturing titles in Doha and at the Australian Open. The Melbourne triumph saw him become the youngest men’s player in history to complete the Career Grand Slam.
Sinner’s Dominance and Resilience
Although Sinner’s 2026 campaign has not begun as expected, with an early loss in Doha and a failed three-peat attempt in Melbourne, this nomination recognizes what was still one of the most dominant individual seasons in 2025.
That year saw him add two more Major titles to his collection, highlighted by his maiden Wimbledon Championships crown. His consistency throughout the season allowed him to mount a legitimate challenge for the year-end No. 1 ranking, despite serving a three-month ban in the middle of the year.
A big reason for that push was his indoor surge late in the season. Sinner closed the year on a fifteen-match winning streak indoors, culminating in a title at the Nitto ATP Finals, where he defeated Alcaraz in the final match of the ATP season.
Joining the Greats
These nominations further underline the global impact that today’s top tennis stars have across the sporting world. Alcaraz and Sinner now join the era once dominated by the “Big Three” as consistent contenders for major global awards.
The winner will be announced in Madrid on 20 April. The other nominees are Mondo Duplantis, Ousmane Dembele, Marc Marquez, and Tadej Pogacar.
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