Djokovic, Williams win top Laureus award
World No.1s Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams have completed a clean sweep for tennis as they won the Laureus Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year awards.
In a glitzy ceremony in the German capital, hosted by US actor Bill Murray, Serbia’s Djokovic beat Barcelona footballer Lionel Messi, sprinter Usain Bolt and Formula 1 champion Lewis Hamilton among others for the top men’s award on Monday at the annual ceremony.
Djokovic and American Williams, who fought off competition from footballer Carli Lloyd and Jamaican sprinter Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce among others, were rewarded for dominating their sport last year, with each winning three of the four grand slams.
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Both athletes picked up the top prize for the third time, with Williams having previously won it in 2003 and 2010 while Djokovic was also victorious in 2012 and 2015.
Golfer Jordan Spieth won the Breakthrough of the Year award after capturing his first two majors at the 2015 US Masters and US Open, while New Zealand’s All Blacks won Team of the Year award following their World Cup victory.
The All Blacks fended off NBA champions Golden State Warriors, the Mercedes Formula One team, the Great Britain Davis Cup tennis team, European soccer club giants Barcelona and women’s soccer world champions the United States.
New Zealand has never before tasted success at the Laureus awards, which began in 2000 and are “dedicated to changing the lives of disadvantaged children through sport, and celebrating the achievements of the world’s greatest sportspeople”.
Dutch footballer and coach Johan Cruyff, who died of cancer in March, was posthumously awarded the Spirit of Sport award. His son Jordi received the award.