Tennis reigned supreme at the 2016 Laureus World Sports Awards in Berlin, with Novak Djokovic winning the World Sportsman of the Year Award while Serena Williams won the Female Sportsperson of the Year Award. This is the third time Djokovic is winning the award, having picked it up in 2012 and 2015. This is the second successive year that he is winning the award after clinching three grand slams - the Australian Open, Wimbledon and the US Open last year.
The 28-year-old, who pipped athlete Usain Bolt and football superstar Lionel Messi to the award, dedicated his win to Formula One legend Nicki Lauda and late footballer Johan Cryuff.
He had a great year again. He has played 88 matches, won 82. He won three out of the four Grand Slams, reached the final of the French Open, hes won seven other tournaments. Very few players, if any, had a year like that, said Djokovics coach German tennis legend Boris Becker as quoted by the Daily Mail.
Williams won her third Sportswoman of the Year Award after getting nominated a record 10 times. Like Djokovic, the 34-year-old too won three Grand Slams last year.
Three-time Formula One World Champion Lauda was presented with the Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award while the late Dutch football legend Cryuff who passed away last month due to cancer, was honoured with the Laureus Spirit of Sport Award which was collected by his son Jordi Cryuff.
The list of winners at the 2016 Laureus World Sports Awards:
Laureus World Sportsman of the Year Award: Novak Djokovic (Tennis)
Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year Award: Serena Williams (Tennis)
Laureus World Team of the Year Award: All Blacks, New Zealand (Rugby)
Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year Award: Jordan Spieth (Golf)
Laureus World Comeback of the Year Award: Dan Carter (Rugby)
Laureus World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability: Daniel Dias (Swimming)
Laureus World Action Sportsperson of the Year: Jan Frodeno (Ironman Triathlon)
