Carlos Alcaraz overcomes 'hard times and pain' to win 2023 Laureus World Breakthough of the Year Award

Carlos Alcaraz paid tribute to his family and team after coming through «hard times» to win the 2023 Laureus World Breakthough of the Year Award. The world No. 2 was recognised for his stellar achievements at the prestigious ceremony in Paris on Monday fresh after successfully retaining the Madrid Open a day earlier.

Ad Alcaraz has won 10 career titles, including the 2022 US Open, where he became the tournament’s youngest winner since Pete Sampras in 1990. WTA MadridCake-gate and 'unacceptable' lack of speeches: Madrid Open controversy explainedA DAY AGO That achievement also ensured Alcaraz became the youngest man to win any Grand Slam since Rafael Nadal in 2005, and the youngest-ever ATP world No. 1.

In his acceptance speech, Alcaraz said: “In my sport, I'm alone in the court, but there's a team behind me and without them it would not be possible. “I'd like to thank them for everything we've been doing together and all the sacrifices and pain we go through. “There have been some hard times.

The truth is that being able to overcome them with the support of my team and my family and to be able to win and to have this award means a lot to me.” Alcaraz’s achievements have set the world of tennis alight and his latest triumph in Madrid means he is alongside only Nadal as one of two players to retain the title. The comparisons to the 22-time Grand Slam winner continue given that the 20-year-old became the youngest player to retain an ATP Masters 1000 title since Nadal. Alcaraz has already won four titles in 2023 after emerging victorious in Buenos Aires, Indian Wells, Barcelona and Madrid.