Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz stand as the only tennis players ever named Laureus World Sportsman of the Year, a distinction that places them among an elite group of athletes across all sports. The honor, presented annually by the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation, recognizes outstanding athletic achievement and sportsmanship from the previous calendar year.
Federer leads tennis with five Laureus World Sportsman of the Year awards, winning consecutively from 2005 through 2008 and again in 2018. His dominance during that period included multiple Grand Slam titles and extended periods as world No. 1, cementing his status as one of the sport’s all-time greats.
Nadal claimed the award in 2011 and 2021, reflecting his sustained excellence across different surfaces and eras. His 2011 victory came after winning three Grand Slam titles, while the 2021 award recognized his 13th French Open championship and continued resilience at the highest level.
Djokovic has won the award four times – in 2012, 2015, 2016, 2019 and 2024 – matching Federer’s total of five Laureus honors when including his Comeback of the Year award in 2024. His victories span nearly a decade and a half, demonstrating remarkable longevity and adaptability in the evolving landscape of men’s tennis.
Most recently, Alcaraz joined this distinguished group in April 2026 after a standout 2025 season. The 22-year-old Spaniard captured eight ATP Tour titles, including his first French Open and US Open championships, and finished the year as ATP Year-End No. 1. His victory made him the fourth tennis player and youngest male singles player ever to receive the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year award.
Speaking at the ceremony in Madrid, Alcaraz reflected on the significance of joining Federer, Nadal and Djokovic on the award’s roster: “Three years ago, I received the Laureus Breakthrough Award in Paris and met one of my heroes, Leo Messi, who won the Laureus Sportsman Award. At the time, I dreamt that maybe one day I would join the great Leo Messi on the Sportsman list, and today, I have. Messi, Federer, Djokovic, Usain Bolt, and of course the great Rafa Nadal. I am following in the footsteps of giants. That makes this moment so special.”
The Laureus World Sports Awards ceremony, held in Madrid on April 20, 2026, also featured former winners Novak Djokovic and Eileen Gu as hosts – marking the first time in the event’s history that two athletes served as masters of ceremony. Other tennis honorees that evening included Aryna Sabalenka, who received the Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year award for her 2025 season that saw her ascend to world No. 1 and capture multiple major titles.
For tennis fans and historians, the quartet of Federer, Nadal, Djokovic and Alcaraz represents a remarkable continuum of excellence in the sport. Their collective Laureus honors – totaling eleven awards – underscore tennis’s prominence within the global sports landscape and the enduring impact of these athletes beyond the baseline.
The next Laureus World Sports Awards ceremony is scheduled for early 2027, though the exact date and location have not yet been announced by the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation. Fans can follow official updates through the organization’s website and social media channels for announcements regarding nominees and ceremony details.
What does it mean for tennis that four different players from the sport have won this award? It speaks to the global reach and individual excellence that tennis demands – where success requires mastery across different surfaces, mental fortitude over long seasons, and the ability to perform consistently against the world’s best. As Alcaraz acknowledged in his acceptance speech, rivalries like his with Jannik Sinner push athletes to reach new levels, creating the very excellence that the Laureus Awards seek to recognize.
For readers interested in tennis history or athletic achievement across sports, the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year list offers a fascinating lens through which to view excellence. From Federer’s era of dominance to Nadal’s clay-court supremacy, Djokovic’s all-court mastery and Alcaraz’s emergent brilliance, each winner represents a different facet of what makes tennis compelling – and why its athletes periodically transcend the sport to be honored among the world’s greatest sportspeople.
As the tennis season progresses toward the French Open and Wimbledon, fans will watch to see if any current contenders begin building cases for future Laureus consideration. For now, Federer, Nadal, Djokovic and Alcaraz remain the sport’s sole representatives in this exclusive club – a testament to their extraordinary careers and the lasting impression they’ve made on tennis and sports culture worldwide.
Have thoughts on which tennis player might join this list next? Share your predictions in the comments below, and don’t forget to share this article with fellow tennis enthusiasts who appreciate the sport’s rich history of excellence.
