ATP Awards: Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Frances Tiafoe among the winners

ATP Tour
Rafael Nadal pleased

The Big Three of Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer as well as Frances Tiafoe all walked away with a gong at the 2020 ATP Awards.

Djokovic, who won four titles this season including the Australian Open, scooped the year-end No 1 trophy as he finished top of the rankings for a record-equalling sixth time.

The 17-time Grand Slam winner also became the oldest year-end No 1 at 33 years, 6 months, 16 days, overtaking Nadal (33 years, 5 months, 23 days).

Nadal received the Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Award, which is voted for by ATP players, for a third straight year as he was awarded “for his fair play, professionalism and integrity on and off the court”.

“It definitely means a lot for me to win this trophy again,” he said. “For me it is a very important trophy. Thank you very much to all my colleagues on the Tour for thinking that I am the right one to receive the sportsmanship award. I want to be remembered as a good person more than a tennis player. That’s why this trophy means a lot.”

His fellow 20-time Grand Slam winner Federer was awarded the singles Fans’ Favourite gong for a record-extending 18th straight year. This comes despite playing only six singles matches all year due to injury.

Russian Andrey Rublev received the Most Improved Player Award after rising from No 23 in the rankings to a career-high No 8 on the back of winning five titles. His coach Fernando Vicente was awarded the Coach of the Year trophy.

Vasek Pospisil from Canada was named Comeback Player of the Year as he started the year outside the top 100, but finished at No 61, finishing runner-up at the Open Sud de France in Montpellier and the Sofia Open.

Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz walked away with the Newcomer of the Year gong as he closed the season at No 141 after starting the campaign at No 491, winning three ATP Challenger Tour events.

American Tiafoe received the Arthur Ashe Humanitarian Award for his work off the court during the pandemic hit 2020 season. The 22-year-old auctioned off signed memorabilia to raise money for coronavirus relief efforts.

Tiafoe was also vocal during protests in the United States following the killing of George Floyd, posting an inspirational video featuring Serena Williams, Naomi Osaka, James Blake, Gael Monfils and others to raise awareness about social injustices.

As for the doubles award winners, US Open champions Mate Pavic and Bruno Soares were the year-ending No 1 doubles team while Jamie Murray and Neal Skupski won the Fans’ Favourite Award.

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Frances Tiafoe Novak Djokovic Rafael Nadal Roger Federer

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