For the fifth time in his career, world No. 1 Novak Djokovic received the coveted Laureus World Sportsman of the Year award after another season for the tennis record books.
In a glittering ceremony on Monday at the Galería De Cristal in Madrid, Djokovic received the evening’s top honor while fellow tennis players Rafael Nadal and Diede de Groot also took home awards.
Last year, Djokovic won his 10th Australian Open, third Roland Garros and fourth US Open titles to bring his Grand Slam tally to an all-time record-equalling 24 Grand Slam singles triumphs.
“I am incredibly honored to have won my fifth Laureus World Sportsman of the Year Award. I think back to 2012, when I won it for the first time as a 24 year old. I am very proud to be here 12 years later, reflecting on a year that brought me and my fans a lot of excitement and success…
“I could not have achieved so much success without an incredible team behind me, and inspirational rivals who have always pushed me to be the best version of myself.”
“To earn the votes of my sporting heroes is what makes these awards so coveted in all of sport,” he added.
The Serbian beat out soccer stars Erling Haaland and Lionel Messi, Formula 1 driver Max Verstappen, pole vaulter Mondo Duplantis, and sprinter Noah Lyles for the award, which was presented by NFL great Tom Brady.
Djokovic, who also took home the World Sportsman of the Year award in 2012, 2015, 2016 and 2019, now ties five-time winner Roger Federer for the most times a tennis player has won the category.
Dutch wheelchair tennis champion De Groot received the Laureus World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability award after recording her third straight calendar Grand Slam last year. Her tally now sits at an astonishing 14 consecutive major singles titles.
“Since I was a little girl, tennis gave me the biggest smile on my face. When I was a teenager, it gave me a different path to follow and suddenly tennis became my job,” De Groot said in her acceptance speech.
“But it was only recently that wheelchair tennis gave me a different insight, that it was a very special journey. It gave me the chance to improve myself every day and inspire so many people throughout the whole world.
“This award is a motivator and also a reminder that, with the biggest smile on my face, I can do anything and so can all the other Diedes out there on their own journey.”
De Groot received the trophy from former world No. 1 Garbine Muguruza, who recently announced her retirement from the sport and a new role as Laureus ambassador.
Meanwhile founder Nadal and director María Francisca Perelló received the Laureus Sport for Good Award for their work with Fundación Rafa Nadal, which launched in 2010 helps over 1,000 vulnerable young people in Spain and India through sport and education programs.
“Receiving this award is a recognition of all the teams, all the collaborators and of course all the beneficiaries who have been a fundamental part of our work during these years,” the Foundation wrote in a statement.
“It drives us to move forward with even more energy and determination. We will continue to use sport as a tool for change, to create opportunities and to build a brighter future for everyone.”
Other honorees included with Spanish soccer star Aitana Bonmati for Sportswoman of the year and her team, the World Cup champions Spanish Women’s National Football Team, for Team of the Year, while American gymnastics star Simone Biles received the Comeback of the Year Award.
Meanwhile other players in attendance include Carlos Alcaraz, who presented Real Madrid wonderkid Jude Bellingham with the Breakthrough of the Year after winning it himself last year
Check out more red carpet and ceremony moments from the 2024 Laureus World Sports Awards in Madrid:
