The Serbian celebrity shined on the Laureus World Sports activities Award in Madrid on Monday night time.
Grand Slam king Djokovic earned his fifth Laureus World Sportsman of the 12 months Award, equaling rival Roger Federer for many within the 25-year-history of the Laureus Awards.
World No. 1 Djokovic acquired the award from his good friend, former NFL standout Tom Brady.
Tennis—and sport—might be transformative and Djokovic praised the Laureus group for utilizing the facility of sport to enhance lives.
“I’m actually blessed to be amongst sports activities greats as a winner, but additionally as a supporter and admirer of Laureus Sport for Good as I too consider within the energy of sport to make a distinction on the planet,” Djokovic stated in his acceptance speech. “Lastly, this Laureus Statuette stands alone as a result of it represents greater than sporting achievement.
“The Laureus mission of utilizing sport as an influence for good has been altering lives for 25 years and embodies the values of its founding patron, Nelson Mandela. I need to add my help to Laureus Sport for Good and the work they’re doing to remodel lives all over the world.”
Reigning Roland Garros and US Open champion Djokovic was honored for his spectacular 2023 season tha noticed him sweep three of the 4 Grand Slam championships, with solely Carlos Alcaraz’s triumph of their epic Wimbledon last separating the Serbian from the primary males’s calendar Grand Slam since Rod Laver in 1969.
It’s Djokovic’s fifth Laureus World Sportsman of the 12 months Award coming 12 years after he received his first in 2012. Djokovic, who was additionally named World Sportsman of the 12 months in 2015, 2016 and 2019, acknowledged fellow Grand Slam champions Rafael Nadal, Garbine Muguruza, Martina Navratilova and Carlos Alcaraz on the historic Palacio de Cibeles in Madrid.
“There’s some unbelievable tennis gamers within the constructing tonight, Rafa, Carlos, Garbine, Martina, some unbelievable people who have made historical past of this sport and sure, we’re particular person athletes from particular person sports activities,” Djokovic stated. “However I feel we are going to all agree that each success we owe to our households, each success we owe to our groups.
“My household is right here with me tonight, my dad and mom, my brothers, my spouse, and I wish to additionally ship a giant thanks to my group that’s not right here at this time however they’ve been instrumental in my success within the 2023 that was the most effective season’s I’ve ever had in my life.”
King of clay Rafael Nadal and Grand Slam king Djokovic have created essentially the most prolific rivalry in ATP historical past.
Fittingly, each champions have been honored in Madrid on Monday night time.
The Fundación Rafa Nadal (Rafa Nadal Basis) was honored with the Laureus Sport for Good Award.
The 22-time Grand Slam champion Nadal and his spouse, Mery, have been readily available to simply accept the award. The couple have been dedicated to the Basis, which helps greater than 300 applications globally.
The Rafa Nadal Basis gives alternative to kids in economically-challenged communities in each Spain and India, via its training and sports activities applications that presently serve about 1,000 younger individuals.
Nadal, who launched the inspiration together with his household again in 2010, has received 5 Laureus Awards himself in three completely different classes through the years, together with Sportsman of the 12 months, Breakthrough of the 12 months and Comeback of the 12 months.
Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz, the 2023 Laureus Breakthrough of the 12 months Award winner, offered that award to Jude Bellingham, who performs for Actual Madrid, Alcaraz’s favourite soccer group.
If there was a Laureus Conscious for Greatest Dressed Couple certainly it could go to Katie Boulter and Alex de Minaur, trying resplendent collectively.
Wheelchair tennis champion Diede de Groot made historical past because the second wheelchair tennis star, following legendary Esther Vergeer (2002 and 2008) to earn the Laureus World Sportsperson of the 12 months with a Incapacity Award.
In honoring de Groot, the Laureus World Sports activities Awards famous her phenomenal 2023 season:, “the Dutchwoman earned the Award following a historic 2023 by which she prolonged her run with out defeat to 127 matches, claiming a 3rd successive calendar Grand Slam – a feat unmatched within the historical past of tennis.”
