A year after achieving the distinction of being the youngest No. 1 in the history of the Pepperstone ATP Rankings, Carlos Alcaraz has been chosen by his fellow players as the recipient of the Jose Higueras Sportsmanship Award, recognizing fair play, professionalism, and integrity on and off the court.
Expressing his joy, Alcaraz stated, “I’m thrilled to win the Jose Higueras Sportsmanship Award. I’m especially delighted that it’s an award chosen by my colleagues on the circuit. It means a lot to me, so thank you all very much.”
Alcaraz now joins the esteemed ranks of Spaniards who have received the ATP Awards honor, including Jose Higueras (1983), Alex Corretja (1996, 1998), and five-time winner Rafael Nadal (2010, 2018-21).
At the age of 20, Alcaraz has secured three player-voted ATP Awards, having previously received Newcomer of the Year in 2020 and Most Improved in 2022.
Known for his class both on and off the court, Alcaraz has garnered a reputation as one of the tour’s classiest players, whether extending get-well-soon messages to injured opponents or sharing his umbrella with ballkids during a prolonged rain delay. In a notable display of sportsmanship, he crossed the net to assist Fabio Fognini when he crashed in Rio de Janeiro, much to the delight of fans.
In 2023, Alcaraz clinched six titles, including a significant five-set victory over two-time defending champion Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon. His triumphs extended to Buenos Aires, Indian Wells, Barcelona, Madrid, and London (Queen’s Club). As the World No. 1 heading into the US Open, Alcaraz has spent a total of 36 weeks atop the Pepperstone ATP Rankings.
Noteworthy nominees Grigor Dimitrov, Hubert Hurkacz, and Jannik Sinner were also considered in this category. Sportsmanship nominees are determined through an International Tennis Writers’ Association (ITWA) vote, with the winner selected by players from the shortlist.
