Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have officially been nominated in the “Best Athlete of the Year” category at the Laureus World Sports Awards 2026. Founded in 1999, the annual ceremony honors athletes and teams from across the sporting world. Roger Federer holds the record with six trophies, while Tiger Woods remains the most nominated athlete with twelve appearances.
Exceptional 2025 campaigns
Alcaraz, the ATP world No. 1, secured victories on the biggest stages, including Roland Garros and the US Open. Sinner confirmed his place among the elite by winning both the Australian Open and Wimbledon. Their nominations reflect a season of dominance, but competition will be intense, with rivals such as Ousmane Dembélé in soccer, Marc Márquez in MotoGP, Tadej Pogačar in cycling, and Mondo Duplantis in pole vault also in contention.
Sabalenka also nominated
In the women’s category, Aryna Sabalenka has been nominated for “Best Athlete of the Year.” The Belarusian star faces strong competition from Aitana Bonmatí in soccer, Melissa Jefferson-Wooden in athletics, Faith Kipyegon in middle-distance running, Katie Ledecky in swimming, and Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone in hurdles.
Breakthrough and comeback categories
The nominations also highlight emerging and returning talents. Joao Fonseca has been recognized in the “Breakthrough of the Year” category, while Amanda Anisimova has earned a place in “Comeback of the Year.” These categories emphasize the breadth of achievement across sports, from rising stars to athletes overcoming adversity.
The Laureus World Sports Awards 2026 promise to celebrate excellence across disciplines, with tennis once again at the forefront thanks to Alcaraz, Sinner, and Sabalenka.
🎙️ The Nominees for the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year Award 2026 are:
🔹 @carlosalcaraz
🔹 @dembouz
🔹 @mondohoss600
🔹 @marcmarquez93
🔹 @TamauPogi
🔹 @janniksin #Laureus26 pic.twitter.com/CS3UtHVf5y— Laureus (@LaureusSport) March 3, 2026
ATP Indian Wells - Jannik Sinner's projected path
Jannik Sinner in 2026
Ranked world no.2, Sinner played his last match on the 19th of February when he was defeated by world no.12 Jakub Mensik 7-6(3) 2-6 6-3 in the quarter in Doha (draw).
At the moment, during this season Jannik has a 7-2 record. Jannik Sinner’s best performance of the present year was getting to the semifinal at the Australian Open.
ATP Indian Wells - Carlos Alcaraz's projected path
Carlos Alcaraz in 2026
At the moment ranked no.1, the Spaniard played his last match on the 21st of February when he defeated world no.32 Arthur Fils 6-2 6-1 in the final in Doha to win his 27th career title.
This year Alcaraz has managed to achieve an overall 12-0 match record. Alcaraz has won 2 titles in 2026 at the Australian Open and Doha.
Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz faced off 17 times. The head to head is 11-6 for Alcaraz.
