Djokovic eyes up another of Nadal’s prestigious titles
THE greatest sportsmen on the planet on Monday go head-to-head to see which of them will be named Laureus World Sportsman of the Year – the most prestigious individual honour in men’s sport.
Novak Djokovic took Rafael Nadal’s tennis world No1 ranking last year and beat the Spaniard in last weekend’s epic Australian Open final – can he also succeed him as holder of the Laureus Award?
Will Barcelona’s brilliant footballer Lionel Messi become the first team player to win this individual Award? Can Jamaican sprint star Usain Bolt, despite false-starting in the World Championships 100m, win his third Laureus Award?
The answers will be revealed at Central Hall, Westminster on Monday. The winners of the Laureus World Sports Awards are chosen by the Laureus World Sports Academy, the ultimate sports jury, made up of 47 of the greatest sportsmen and sportswomen of all time.
THE NOMINEES
USAIN BOLT
(Jamaica) Athletics
Usain Bolt is best remembered in 2011 for the false start which disqualified him from the World Championship 100m. However, he still won two gold medals in Daegu – the 200m and the 4x100m relay, in which he and the Jamaican team set a new world record.
NOVAK DJOKOVIC
(Serbia) Tennis
The dominant player in men’s tennis in 2011, winning three grand slams – the Australian Open, Wimbledon and the US Open – and rising to No1 in the world. He is the first man from Serbia to win a grand slam singles title and youngest, at 24, to reach the semi-finals of all four grand slams.
CADEL EVANS
(Australia) Cycling
Won the Tour de France after dramatically taking the lead in the time trial on the penultimate day of the race. He was the first Australian to win the Tour and, at 34, the oldest winner in the post-war era. He was also second in 2007 and 2008. Also won the Tirreno-Adriatico and Tour de Romandie.
LIONEL MESSI
(Argentina) Football
The greatest footballer of his generation – and still just 24 – Messi scored 53 goals for Barcelona in the 2010/11 season. Messi played a key role in Barcelona’s Champions League success, scoring 12 times. In the final, he scored the decisive second goal in the 3-1 victory against Manchester United.
DIRK NOWITZKI
(Germany) Basketball
Won Most Valuable Player award in the NBA Finals as Dallas Mavericks beat Miami Heat to win their first ever NBA title. In the best-of-seven series, Nowitzki scored 62 points in the decisive game in Miami. Plays power forward, but has mobility and shooting ability to play other front court positions.
SEBASTIAN VETTEL
(Germany) Motor Racing
Claimed his second successive Formula One World Championship in 2011. Driving a Red Bull, he secured the title at the Japanese Grand Prix in October, four races before the end of the season. It made Vettel the youngest driver, at 24, to have won two world titles.