It was a massive 2011 season for world number one tennis player Novak Djokovic of Serbia. Not a bad start to 2012 either with a win in the Australian Open and now the award for the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year.
Djokovic beat out big names including Aussie cyclist Cadel Evans, NBA champion for the Dallas Mavericks Dirk Nowitzki, F1 World Champion Sebastien Vettel, sprinter Usain Bolt and football star Lionel Messi. Djokovic won three of the four Grand Slam tournaments in 2011 and won more tournaments than any other player. His final at this years Australian Open against Rafael Nadal, the longest Grand Slam final in history, proved why he is just so good.
Other notable winners included golf’s Rory McIlroy, partner of tennis player Caroline Wozniacki. He took home the Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year award after winning the US Open, setting a record for being the first person to hold a 14 under par score. Kelly Slater took home the World Action Sportsperson of the Year after finishing the year number one in surfing for an impressive eleventh time in his career.
Web: Laureus
