EXCITING NEWS Alcaraz is honored with the King Felipe Award.

Thursday held a significant moment for Carlos Alcaraz within his homeland. Ranked No. 3 in the PIF ATP Rankings, he was bestowed with the King Felipe Award, an acknowledgment of being the top Spanish athlete of 2022. King Felipe VI presented him with the award at the Royal Palace in El Pardo.

Reflecting on this honor, Alcaraz expressed, “We’re surrounded by great athletes in Spain in every field. Three or four years ago I wouldn’t have expected to receive this award. I’m very proud of it, it’s truly amazing.”

Alcaraz was awarded for his outstanding performance throughout 2022, marked by his historic achievements such as clinching his first Grand Slam title at the US Open and becoming the youngest ever World No. 1 in PIF ATP Rankings. During that remarkable season, the Murcia native secured a total of five titles, notably including his maiden ATP Masters 1000 victories in Miami and Madrid. Concluding the year with an impressive record of 57 wins and 13 defeats, Alcaraz’s prowess was duly recognized.

Looking ahead, Alcaraz is eagerly anticipating the start of the European clay swing in Monte-Carlo, where he will begin his campaign. Despite having only participated once in the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters in 2022, where he fell to Sebastian Korda in the opening round, the two-time reigning Indian Wells champion is enthusiastic about the upcoming challenges. Reflecting on recent tournaments, he expressed satisfaction with his performance levels and mindset on court, emphasizing his readiness for another successful clay swing.

Regarding the recent change in the PIF ATP Rankings, which saw Jannik Sinner replace him as the No. 2, alongside Novak Djokovic retaining the top position, Alcaraz remains modest. He acknowledges the formidable skills of Djokovic and Sinner on any surface and does not consider himself the favorite, despite his past successes on clay. Alcaraz recognizes Djokovic’s ability to elevate his game at any given moment and anticipates tough competition from both players.

Furthermore, Alcaraz discussed his budding rivalry with Sinner, highlighting their balanced head-to-head record (4-4) and expressing hopes for a compelling rivalry akin to those of Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic. He aspires for their rivalry to drive mutual improvement and bring out the best in each other on the court.