He is in contention for his fifth award in the category of best sportsman of the year.
Madrid will be the global sports capital this Monday. The Palacio de Cibeles will host the 25th edition of the Laureus Awards. A constellation of stars will walk the red carpet to a ceremony that annually recognizes the best athletes.
As a preview of what will be seen at the Caja Mágica with the Mutua Madrid Open, tennis will be highlighted by the figure of Novak Djokovic. The world number one is up for his fifth award.
If he succeeds, he would match Roger Federer, who leads the ranking of the most winning in the male athlete of the year category.
The Serbian tennis player received the award in 2012, 2015, 2016, and 2019. His performance in 2023 has earned him another nomination: he won seven titles, including three Grand Slams (Australian Open, Roland Garros, and US Open) and the ATP Finals, was a finalist at Wimbledon, and ended the year as number one for the eighth time.
The ‘Big Three’ have monopolized all the awards that tennis has received in this category. In 2021, Rafa Nadal was the last tennis player recognized as the best male athlete, winning his second Laureus (the first in 2011).
This time, Djokovic’s fellow nominees include Leo Messi, who has won twice (2020 and 2023) and is nominated for the eighth time. Race car driver Max Verstappen also knows what it’s like to win this award, having done so in 2022.
From athletics, both Armand Duplantis, the world pole vault record holder nominated in 2021 and 2023, and Noah Lyles, who won three golds at the World Championships (100m, 200m, and 4x100m), seek their first trophy. Football is also represented by Norwegian striker Erling Haaland.
“It is an honor to be nominated for the Laureus Sportsman of the Year award. It’s a special group to be a part of,” Djokovic said, according to Marca.
Tennis is also represented in the female category by Iga Swiatek, in the breakthrough category by Coco Gauff, in the comeback category by Marketa Vondrousova, and in the paralympic category by Diede de Groot. Additionally, the Rafa Nadal Foundation is up for the ‘Sports for Good’ award.
