Luke Littler makes sporting history with ‘Oscars of Sport’ award nod.. but admits he’s just desperate to meet tennis ace

Luke Littler is hoping to rub shoulders with tennis sensation Carlos Alcaraz when the sporting world gathers for the prestigious Laureus World Sports Awards.

The 19-year-old darts prodigy has been shortlisted for the Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year award, with the ceremony — often dubbed the “Oscars of Sport” — expected to feature some of the biggest names across global athletics. And Littler admits there is one athlete in particular he wants to meet.

The darts star revealed he would love to speak with Alcaraz, who completed his career Grand Slam earlier this year by defeating Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open final in January.

Littler, who has also been enjoying time at the Cheltenham Festival, said:
“Hopefully I can meet Alcaraz. I’m a big tennis fan — and he actually won me some money when he beat Novak Djokovic!

“It’s an amazing feeling. I think I’ve broken through twice now, after doing it in 2024 as well. It’s obviously massive.”

Alcaraz, 22, has been nominated for World Sportsman of the Year alongside footballer Ousmane Dembélé, pole-vault superstar Armand ‘Mondo’ Duplantis, MotoGP legend Marc Márquez, cycling champion Tadej Pogačar, and fellow tennis ace Jannik Sinner.

Meanwhile, two-time world champion Littler is competing in the Breakthrough of the Year category alongside Désiré Doué, Brazilian tennis prospect João Fonseca, Canadian NBA star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and 12-year-old Chinese swimming sensation Yu Zidi.

The star-studded ceremony will be held at Cibeles Palace on April 20.

There is a strong possibility Alcaraz will attend, with the Madrid Open tennis tournament scheduled to begin just two days later.

Before that, the seven-time Grand Slam champion is currently competing in Indian Wells Masters in California, where he faces No.13 seed Casper Ruud in the round of 16 tonight.

Littler, meanwhile, will turn his focus back to darts when he returns to action in the Premier League Darts in Nottingham on Thursday night.

The world No.1 is set to face Gerwyn Price in the quarter-finals at Motorpoint Arena Nottingham.