"How are you going to deny the man who won 3 Slams in a row and was 1 away from Calendar Slam"- Tennis fans on Novak Djokovic being denied Laureus Sportsman Award
Novak Djokovic had one of the best ever seasons by an ATP player in 2021, falling one match short of winning the Calendar Slam. After winning the Australian Open, Roland Garros and Wimbledon, the World No. 1 fell to Daniil Medvedev in the final of the US Open.
The Serb was also in line to win Olympic gold, but lost in the semifinals to eventual winner Alexander Zverev. But despite all these achievements, the 20-time Grand Slam champion did not win the 2022 Laureus Sportsman of the Year Award.
The #Laureus22 World Sportsman of the Year Award winner is @Max33Verstappen
🏆 The #Laureus22 World Sportsman of the Year Award winner is @Max33Verstappen
Max won his first @F1 Championship in thrilling style in 2021. The @redbullracing driver had ten Grand Prix wins during the year and a record 18 podium finishes 👏 https://t.co/8QmjeyDcCr
The honor went to 2021 Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen. The Dutchman beat out five-time defending champion Lewis Hamilton in the final race of the season in controversial fashion, becoming the fourth youngest champion in the sport's history.
🏆 Max Verstappen is confirmed as the 2021 #F1 champion
It's been confirmed that the results stands.
#BBCF1 #AbuDhabiGP
Alongside Verstappen and Novak Djokovic, NFL superstar Tom Brady, footballer Robert Lewandowski, swimmer Caeleb Dressel and athlete Eliud Kipchoge were all nominated but could not beat the 24-year-old racer.
While F1 fans were more than happy about the Red Bull driver taking home the prize, tennis fans were decidedly not. Many took to social media to express their displeasure at the decision, remarking that the World No. 1 ought to have been the rightful winner, given how close he came to making history.
"With all due respect to Max [Verstappen], what he’s achieved is incredible but how are you going to deny the man who won 3 Slams in a row and was one win away from sealing the Calendar year Slam + broke the record for most weeks at #1 …? You lot are embarrassing," one fan lamented.
With all due respect to Max, what he’s achieved is incredible but how are you going to deny the man who won 3 slams in a row and was one win away from sealing the Calendar year slam + broke the record for most weeks at #1 …? You lot are embarrassing twitter.com/LaureusSport/s…
It’s pretty obvious how much I love Max but Novak’s achievement in 2021 were extraordinary. I really thought Max will lose it to Novak but the exact opposite happened. Max Verstappen won the Laureus.
"Novak Djokovic winning 27/28 matches, Winning 3 Slams, Reaching Final in the 4th, Losing ok in SF in Olympics in one of his best Tennis season is not enough to win Laureus World Sportsman of the year Award. Individual sport>> Team sport," another fan posted.
NOVAK DJOKOVIC winning 27/28 matches, Winning 3 Slams, Reaching Final in the 4th, Losing ok in SF in Olympics in one of his best Tennis season is not enough to win Laureus World Sportsman of the year Award. Individual sport>> Team sport.
I love both Novak Djokovic & Max Verstappen. And Laureus was won by Max. Even I believe Novak’s achievement were extraordinary in 2021 & was fav to win Laureus, but that doesn’t give anyone the authority to discredit Max Verstappen! He earned his maiden title against 7 times WDC!
"Unpopular opinion maybe but I think Novak [Djokovic] should’ve won that sportsman of the year award. To me at least, winning 3 slams and reaching the final in the 4th is a more impressive achievement," one account wrote.
Unpopular opinion maybe but I think Novak should’ve won that sportsman of the year award. To me at least, winning 3 slams and reaching the final in the 4th is a more impressive achievement.
Djokovic probs had the most historic year in men’s tennis in terms of records. Got most weeks at no1. Matched GS total. DCGS. Won 27/28 GS matches. Verstappen winning it is bs. Safety car merchant. twitter.com/LaureusSport/s…
@AncaIoa21 This so true. They never give awards and recognition to the ACTUAL players who are the best and are deserving. Always to someone who is a little worse than the rest that need a little bright moment.
Many were of the opinion that the World No. 1's achievements in an individual sport like tennis should have counted for more than Verstappen winning in a team sport. Another opinion doing the rounds on social media was that the Serb was denied the award due to "political pressure," possibly referring to his tarnished public image as an openly unvaccinated athlete.
"How Novak [Djokovic] didn't win LAUREUS world sportsman of the year for his achievement in 2021 but Nadal won for his achievement in 2020 can never be explained by anyone. Also shows if you side with establishment you get to collect your coins," one user tweeted.
How Novak didn't win LAUREUS world sportsman of the year for his achievement in 2021 but Nadal won for his achievement in 2020 can never be explained by anyone.
Also shows if you side with establishment you get to collect your coins.
Unfortunately for Novak Djokovic, politics is and always has been intrinsically linked with sport. The two are inseparable...🎾 Unfortunately for Novak Djokovic, politics is and always has been intrinsically linked with sport. The two are inseparable...
✍️ @SimonLSport
#Wimbledon2022 | #Tennis
The fact that Djokovic didn’t win the “sportsman of the year” for what he did in 2021 just validates his greatness. https://t.co/ltYapxeZOT
"To declare the best athlete of the year someone who won suspiciously, and at the same time ignore the athlete who won 3 GS in a row and reached the finals of the 4th GS due to political pressure..." another account wrote.
To declare the best athlete of the year someone who won suspiciously, and at the same time ignore the athlete who won 3 GS in a row and reached the finals of the 4th GS due to political pressure ... 🤮@LaureusSport you are laughable. twitter.com/LaureusSport/s…
It's not a real award if they refuse to acknowledge the best player in the sport. Makes it a joke, given out by 🤡 twitter.com/MaheshS_Wali/s…
@NoleLondon @DjokerSA @LaureusSport @RafaelNadal Yes.
It explains why Nadal won it in a year he did not finish as #1, he was not even the best tennis player of the season,let alone the best sportsman.
Yet Novak doesn’t win in a year he broke many historic records.
It’s a joke award now, like the Moet&Chandon awards. 😂
Novak Djokovic is the tennis player with the second-most Lauerus Sportsman awards, trails Roger Federer
Novak Djokovic might have missed out on winning the award this year, but he is still the tennis player with the second-most Laureus trophies to his name. The 34-year-old has won the award four times till date, taking home the prize in 2012, 2015, 2016 and 2019.
Novak Djokovic is the Men's Sportsman for the Year for Laureus. His 4th, after 2012, 2015 and 2016. https://t.co/c3XljCYfYD
Only Roger Federer has more wins among his colleagues, with the Swiss winning the award four times in a row between 2005 and 2008 and most recently in 2018. Rafael Nadal, meanwhile, has been bestowed with the honor twice till date, in 2011 and 2021.