Novak Djokovic took home one of the top prizes from the Laureus World Sports Awards on Monday, as he was named the latest World Sportsman of the Year in recognition of his 2023 tennis season.
Djokovic's win, announced Monday night at the Galería De Cristal in Madrid, gives him a record-tying five World Sportsman of the Year awards. He also won in 2012, 2015, 2016 and 2019, and has tied Roger Federer for the most times a tennis player has won the category.
Djokovic was rewarded for a historic season last year in which he fell just one set short of completing the calendar-year Grand Slam. He won titles at the Australian Open, Roland Garros, and the US Open—his 24th major, tying Margaret Court for the lead in all-time Grand Slam singles titles in the process—and lost to Carlos Alcaraz in a five-set Wimbledon final.
"I am incredibly honored to have won my fifth Laureus World Sportsman of the Year Award. I think back to 2012, when I won it for the first time as a 24-year-old. I am very proud to be here 12 years later, reflecting on a year that brought me and my fans a lot of excitement and success," he said.
"I could not have achieved so much success without an incredible team behind me, and inspirational rivals who have always pushed me to be the best version of myself."
Djokovic was among five tennis players to be nominated for this year's awards from the Laureus World Sports Academy that recognize athletic greatness annually, and attended the event alongside players including Carlos Alcaraz, Alex de Minaur, Katie Boulter and Rafael Nadal. Nadal's charitable foundation was also honored with an award.
Djokovic wasn't the only 2023 US Open champion who left the Madrid event with hardware: Diede de Groot was also named World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability in recognition of winning her third consecutive calendar-year Grand Slam last year. The world No. 1 has won the last 14 Grand Slam events played.
“Since I was a little girl, tennis gave me the biggest smile on my face. When I was a teenager, it gave me a different path to follow and suddenly tennis became my job,” de Groot said in her acceptance speech.
“But it was only recently that wheelchair tennis gave me a different insight, that it was a very special journey. It gave me the chance to improve myself every day and inspire so many people throughout the whole world. This award is a motivator and also a reminder that, with the biggest smile on my face, I can do anything, and so can all the other Diedes out there on their own journey.”
De Groot received her award from two-time Grand Slam singles champion Garbiñe Muguruza, who was officially announced as an ambassador for the Laureus organization after also announcing her retirement from tennis over the weekend.
