Madrid will take center stage as the global capital of sport on Monday, April 22, as the prestigious Laureus Awards celebrates its 25th edition at the Cibeles Palace.
A host of sports stars will grace the red carpet for this annual awards ceremony that honors outstanding sportsmen and women from around the world.
Ahead of the upcoming Mutua Madrid Open at the Caja Mágica, tennis will feature prominently with Novak Djokovic poised as a key figure. The world number one is vying for his fifth Laureus Award, aiming to match Roger Federer’s record as the most decorated male sportsman in this category.
Djokovic previously clinched the award in 2012, 2015, 2016, and 2019. His exceptional performance in 2023, highlighted by seven titles including three Grand Slams (Australian Open, Roland Garros, and US Open) along with victory at the ATP Finals, earned him another nomination. Djokovic was also a Wimbledon finalist and finished the year as the world’s top-ranked player for the eighth time.
Tennis has been a regular feature at the event
The ‘Big Three’ of tennis –Djokovic, Federer, and Rafael Nadal– have dominated this Laureus category, with Nadal being the most recent tennis player to win in 2021 (his second Laureus after 2011).
This year, Djokovic faces tough competition from fellow nominees Lionel Messi, a two-time winner (2020 and 2023), and Formula 1 driver Max Verstappen, who secured the award in 2022.
“It’s an honor to be nominated for the Laureus Sportsman of the Year Award. A special group to be a part of,” commented Djokovic upon the announcement of the nominations.
Tennis is further recognized in multiple categories at the Laureus Awards. Iga Swiatek represents in the women’s category, while Coco Gauff is nominated for revelation, Marketa Vondrousova for best comeback, and Diede de Groot for the Paralympic category. Additionally, the Rafa Nadal Foundation is in contention for the ‘Sports for Good’ award.
