Laureus Awards: Naomi Osaka and Rafael Nadal clean up, Dominic Thiem gets nothing
Naomi Osaka and Rafael Nadal won the Laureus Awards in Seville.
by Florian Goosmann
last edit: May 06, 2021, 09:49 pm
Osaka won the "Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year Award", Nadal the "Laureus World Sportsman of the Year Award". Another ex-tennis player is among the winners - Billie Jean King received the "Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award".
The Laureus Awards are known as the "Sports Oscars": the nominees were selected by 1,000 journalists from all over the world, and the winners were determined by the Laureus Academy. This consists of 69 legends of the sport.
Osaka had triumphed after resuming the tennis tour in 2020, including a victory at the US Open. Here she had also made herself politically strong in the context of the "Black Lives Matter" movement. "You are a great role model for all athletes and show all athletes what can be achieved with hard work and passion," said athletics icon Usain Bolt in the direction of his tennis colleague.
Messi congratulates Nadal: "example for everyone"
Nadal had won his 13th title at the French Open held in late summer and drew level with Roger Federer with 20 titles in the overall Grand Slam record. "Hi Rafa, I wanted to tell you: You are a perfect example for everyone - because of your hard work, your perseverance and the fact that you have been playing at your highest level for so many years," said Lionel Messi to Nadal.
Dominic Thiem went out empty-handed. The US Open Champ from 2020 was nominated for the "Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year Award", but American football player Patrick Mahomes won here.