Novak Djokovic sets a standard that only Roger Federer has done before.
Novak Djokovic is often considered the best tennis player of all time. Some may contend that Rafael Nadal is, while others may believe Roger Federer is. However, the numbers favor Djokovic. He has won more Grand Slam titles (24) than any other men’s player, more Masters 1000 events (40), and more weeks as the ATP No. 1 than anybody else.
On Monday, Djokovic tied another record previously held by Federer. Djokovic received the Laureus World Sports Award for Sportsman of the Year for the sixth consecutive year. Djokovic’s five awards may be more spectacular than Federer’s because Federer won four of them in a row (2005–2008). This was before Nadal or Djokovic rose to prominence, and Federer faced less high-level competition than Nadal and Djokovic.
That is not intended to be a slight against Federer. When he was so powerful in the mid-2000s, he had no control over who he played against. He simply defeated almost everyone he encountered. Federer began to struggle just after Nadal and Djokovic hit their peak.
Novak Djokovic has tied Roger Federer for the most Laureus Sports Award Sportsmen of the Year victories.Djokovic won his Laureus honors from 2012 to 2024, and he constantly outperformed Federer. Serena Williams, a tennis player, joins the Serbs and Swiss in winning the most Sportsman or Sportswoman of the Year awards.
This is significant because the Laureus Awards are open to everyone in sports. For example, since the awards were established in 2000, track sensation Usain Bolt has received the Sportsman of the Year title four times. Lionel Messi has won twice.
The Laureus Sport for Good Foundation established the Laureus Globe Sports Awards with the goal of using sport to combat violence, discrimination, and disadvantage, demonstrating its potential to positively impact the globe.
However, Nadal did not leave empty-handed in 2024. His Rafa Nadal Foundation received the Sport for Good Award. This award honors organizations or foundations that use sport as a strong and cost-effective tool to help children and young people overcome violence, discrimination, and adversity in their lives.
Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer are tied for the most Sportsmen of the Year titles, although Federer has one more Laureus victory from the World Comeback of the Year award in 2018. Djokovic appears to be too consistent to win the Comeback of the Year honor, to be honest.
