World No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz, the 18-year-old Spaniard, secured the Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Award 2023 on Friday, December 15. Alcaraz’s outstanding display of fair play and integrity on the court earned him the prestigious ATP award, a recognition bestowed upon players who exhibit exceptional sportsmanship throughout the year.
Alcaraz’s journey to the coveted award saw him defeating formidable opponents, including Jannik Sinner, Hubert Hurkacz, and Grigor Dimitrov. This achievement makes him the fourth Spaniard to claim the honor, joining the ranks of Jose Higueras, Alex Corretja, and Rafael Nadal.
Expressing his joy, Alcaraz shared, “I’m so happy to win the Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Award. I’m especially happy that it’s an award chosen by my colleagues on the circuit. It means a lot to me, so thank you all very much.”
The young tennis prodigy had a remarkable year, clinching six titles, with the Wimbledon final standing out as a highlight. His victory over the legendary Novak Djokovic, the current World No.1, marked a significant milestone in his flourishing career.
Looking ahead, Alcaraz is gearing up for the Australian Open 2023, set to commence in mid-January. Notably, in 2021, he became the youngest and the first teenager to claim the World No.1 spot, a feat achieved by defeating Casper Ruud in the final of the US Open 2022. Djokovic himself has praised Alcaraz as one of the most complete players he has ever witnessed, with Alcaraz boasting two victories over the tennis icon in their five encounters to date.
