Hollywood celebrities Teri Hatcher and Cuba Gooding Jr. hosted the seventh annual award ceremony staged at the Parc del Fòrum, honoring the achievements of the world’s best sportsmen and sportswomen in the period between February 1, 2005 and February 28, 2006 as chosen by the Laureus World Sports Academy – a 42 member jury made up of sports legends, including Boris Becker.
Federer took top honors over an elite field of sportsmen comprised of Fernando Alonso, Lance Armstrong, Ronaldinho, Valentino Rossi and Tiger Woods after producing a remarkable 81-4 season in 2005. He became just the fifth player in the Open Era to hold down the INDESIT ATP No. 1 Ranking for the entire year and also established an Open Era record of 24 finals won in a row. The 24-year-old Swiss once again rose to the occasion at Wimbledon and the US Open, successfully defending his titles to become the first man in almost 80 years to win both in back-to-back years.
“This is such a huge honor for me to win the Laureus Award for World Sportsman of the Year for the second consecutive year. Most importantly is the fact that I am being recognized outside of the sport of tennis on such a global stage alongside enormous sporting icons and legends as the other nominees,” said Federer.
Meanwhile, Nadal was selected over fellow tennis teen Andy Murray and nominees Paula Creamer, Lionel Messi, Danica Patrick, and Ben Roethlisberger. The Spaniard put together one of the most prolific seasons in ATP history, capturing a season record of 11 teenage titles, including the Roland Garros crown. The 19-year-old clay court king won 79 matches — 39 more than his 2004 total — and became the first teenager to finish World No. 2 since Boris Becker in nearly two decades
Said Nadal: "Wow, it is great to receive an award like this. I never thought this past year would be so good and I definitely did not expect anything of what's happening. I want to thank a lot of people but I guess I don't have enough space so I will thank the academy members of the Laureus for nominating me and to all the people who voted and normally follow what I do on court. I have a lot of fun playing but also enjoy these kind of achievements because it is something that goes beyond the world of tennis."
Professional tennis players figured prominently in each available category, with the Croatian Davis Cup team nominated for Laureus World Team of the Year, Kim Clijsters and Martina Hingis for Comeback Players of the Year, and Clijsters again for Sportswoman of the Year.
Source: atptennis
