Alcaraz’s Fair Play Earns Second Edberg Honor

In the pressure-cooker of the 2025 ATP Tour, Carlos Alcaraz carved out a 71-9 record that propelled him to year-end No. 1, lifting eight trophies including two majors along the way. At 22, the Spaniard has now claimed the Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Award for the second time, following his 2023 victory, a recognition that spotlights his conduct both in the heat of rallies and beyond the lines. This honor, voted on by the exclusive ATP No. 1 Club of 29 current and former top-ranked players, arrives after a year where his game evolved across surfaces, from clay’s grinding exchanges to hard courts’ rapid fire.

Alcaraz’s season demanded constant adaptation: heavy topspin to control points on slower courts, sharper angles for quicker resolutions on faster ones. He defended titles with a mix of inside-out forehands that pulled opponents wide and down-the-line backhands that pierced defenses. Yet it was his off-script decisions that truly defined the narrative, moments where fairness trumped fleeting advantage.

A defining stretch at Roland Garros

One such instance unfolded at Roland Garros, where Alcaraz faced Ben Shelton in the fourth round. Stretching full for a volley in a tense crosscourt rally, he appeared to clip a winner, but he called a foul on himself, alerting the umpire that the ball had slipped from his grip mid-air—contact without control meant the point went to Shelton by rule. That split-second choice, amid the clay’s dusty grip and the crowd’s expectant murmur, shifted the match’s tempo yet preserved his inner balance, allowing him to reset with a deep slice return on the next exchange.

The Parisian sun beat down as Alcaraz regrouped, using a 1–2 pattern to probe Shelton’s big serve with low-bouncing approaches. His honesty didn’t derail the run; it fueled a deeper focus, carrying him through the tournament’s later stages where psychological edges decided tight sets. Crowds sensed the shift, their applause mixing respect with the roar of a player who played the game straight.

Standing out among gracious peers

Felix Auger-Aliassime, Grigor Dimitrov, and Casper Ruud joined the nominees, each earning spots through an International Tennis Writers’ Association vote for their own displays of poise under fire. Alcaraz’s selection by the No. 1 Club set him apart, highlighting a consistency that wove through his season’s highs and recoveries. Off court, his quick engagements with fans and measured reflections in press rooms built quiet alliances, easing the isolation of the top spot.

His tactical shifts—from flatter shots to penetrate hard-court defenses to looped topspin lobs over net rushes—mirrored this reliability. In Turin’s year-end finale, he navigated group-stage pressures with down-the-line passes that evoked calm authority. This blend of strategy and spirit positioned him ahead in a field of accomplished rivals.

Linking to tennis’s respectful past

The Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Award, named for the Swede who won it five times between 1988 and 1995, traces a lineage of grace. From 2004 to 2021, Roger Federer secured it 13 times and Rafael Nadal five, their decades marked by rivalries that blended fierce competition with mutual regard, elevating every baseline duel. Alcaraz steps into that tradition, his repeat honor signaling a fresh era where young stars carry forward the sport’s ethical core.

As 2025 closes, Alcaraz eyes 2026 with the same fusion of aggression and accountability—perhaps channeling that Roland Garros resolve into Davis Cup battles or another major charge. His path reminds the tour that true dominance lies not just in winners struck, but in the choices that define a champion’s stride. The next swing awaits, grounded in the integrity that got him here.