Season 2014 was outstanding for tennis no.1 Novak Djokovic.Season 2014 was outstanding for tennis no.1 Novak Djokovic.

Novak Djokovic has been named Sportsman of the Year at the Laureus World Sports Awards in Shanghai, yesterday, pipping the likes of Rory McIlroy, Lewis Hamilton and Cristiano Ronaldo to the award.

Djokovic, who also won the award in 2012, picked up the gong after winning his eighth grand slam title with victory at the Australian Open earlier this year.

In the past year he has also collected his second Wimbledon crown and won the ATP Finals for the third time in a row.

“This is probably the crown of my 2014 season that has been highlighted with winning Wimbledon, regaining no.1 in the world and becoming a father.

“It has probably been my best year so far in my life,” Djokovic, currently playing at the Monte Carlo Masters, said in a statement.

Ethiopia’s Genzebe Dibaba was named Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year after breaking three world records in different events in two weeks.

She is only the third person in history to achieve this feat, along with athletic giants Jesse Owens and Usain Bolt.

The Laureus World Sports Awards are the premier honours on the international sporting calendar.

The winners are chosen by the Laureus World Sports Academy, the ultimate sports jury, made up of 50 of the greatest living sportsmen and sportswomen.

Germany champions

Germany’s football team took the Team of the Year award following success at the World Cup.

Oliver Bierhoff, manager of the Germany team, was at the awards ceremony to receive the award following the historic victory last year when Germany became the first European team to win the FIFA World Cup in South America.

It was Germany’s fourth World Cup triumph.

There was an emotional welcome from the guests at the Shanghai Grand Theatre for South Africa’s Schalk Burger, who won the Laureus World Comeback of the Year Award after recovering from life-threatening meningitis to win his place back in the Springboks rugby team.

Australia’s Daniel Ricciardo was named winner of the World Breakthrough of the Year Award after a brilliant rookie season in which he won three Formula One Grands Prix for Red Bull.

There was a double success for the United States with wheelchair racer Tatyana McFadden winning the Disability Award and Alan Eustace receiving the Action Sports Award after his record-breaking freefall from the edge of space.

Host nation China was celebrating yesterday after the Laureus World Sports Academy gave two special Awards.

Retired tennis star Li Na, who won two Grand Slam championships, was given the Laureus Academy Exceptional Achievement Award, while basketball legend Yao Ming, who had a stunning career with Houston Rockets until he retired in 2011, was honoured with the Laureus Spirit of Sport Award.

Proceeds from the Laureus World Sports Awards directly benefit and underpin the work of the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation.

Since its inception, Laureus has raised €60 million for projects which have improved the lives of millions of young people.

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