Carlos Alcaraz will start his chase for the second US Open crown against dangerous Reilly Opelka on Monday night. The 22-year-old has yet to embrace his duties at the final Major event of the season, but he has already received the first award!
Ahead of his press conference, Carlos added another accolade to his growing list of honors. This time, it came for his character rather than his tennis.
The five-time Major champion received the ITWA Player Ambassador Award from the International Tennis Writers' Association. Around 100 journalists voted and recognized Alcaraz as a true representative of the sport.
The award honors competitors who embody respect, accessibility and honesty in their dealings with the media - whether after triumphs or setbacks. At such a young age, Carlos has already built a reputation for his openness.
The El Palmar native has never avoided tricky questions, answering them with sincerity and a trademark smile. The award surprised the Spaniard, who came to embrace his first official press conference of this year's US Open.
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The award finished in the right hands, with Carlos emphasizing the importance of mutual respect between players and journalists, the one that makes tennis fans more informed and involved.
To draw the line, Alcaraz's approachable nature and grounded personality despite a massive success continue to win him admirers and followers well beyond the court.
At 22, Carlos is a five-time Major winner, an eight-time Masters 1000 champion and the youngest world no. 1 in ATP history. The latest recognition highlights his different side.
Alongside fearless competitor and glory chaser, the Spaniard also stands as the ambassador who values the role of communication and representation as much as competition and on-court battles.
Carlos shows that being a champion goes far beyond winning titles, and the latest award acknowledges his honesty and ever-presented smile. We should see it again at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Monday night.
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The 2022 US Open champion faces the home favorite Reilly Opelka in what could be a blockbuster first-round clash. Alcaraz remains the favorite, but he will have to bring his best shots and a smile to conquer the giant server and make a winning start.
