Carlos Alcaraz wins Best Tennis Player ESPY for fourth straight year in historic run

**Carlos Alcaraz** has capped another stellar season by taking home the 2026 ESPY for Best Tennis Player**, beating Jannik Sinner, Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina in the unified category that replaced the former male/female split. The award covers the 12-month window from June 1 2025 to May 31 2026-precisely the stretch in which Alcaraz collected three Grand Slam titles.

What happened at the ESPYs?

The ESPYs, ESPN’s annual sports awards modeled on the Oscars and Emmys, handed Alcaraz his fourth straight Best Tennis Player trophy on the night of July 15 2026 in Los Angeles. The unified category debuted in 2023, folding both genders into a single award after the previous male and female honors. Alcaraz now owns the 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026 editions, underscoring his dominance across the eligibility cycle.

Why it matters for Carlos Alcaraz

The June 1 2025-May 31 2026 window explains why Alcaraz claimed the prize despite a recent injury layoff. The award looks backward, so his 2026 ESPY reflects results from the previous 12 months-including the 2025 US Open, 2026 Australian Open and 2026 French Open. That trio of majors sits at the heart of his case for the award.

And the timing couldn’t be sharper. After weeks of speculation about a comeback, Alcaraz is set to return to the Cincinnati Open in August 2026. His absence from tour play had raised questions about his 2027 ESPY defense, but the Spaniard’s trophy haul keeps the door wide open.

What comes next for Alcaraz?

The immediate focus is on regaining match rhythm. Alcaraz hasn’t played since Roland-Garros in late May, and the gap leaves him with rust to shake off before the US hard-court swing. Still, his 2026 ESPY haul proves he remains the standard-bearer in the unified category.

But the bigger picture is even brighter. With three majors in the eligibility window and a fourth straight ESPY on his mantel, Alcaraz is writing himself into the history books. The question now is how quickly he can translate that momentum back onto court-and whether anyone can close the gap before the 2027 cycle begins.