The Hindu : Sport : Three-in-a-row for Roger Federer

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Wednesday, Apr 04, 2007
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Sport - Sports : General

Three-in-a-row for Roger Federer

Barcelona : Roger Federer won his third straight `Laureus Sportsman of the Year' award on Monday.

Federer, the world's top-ranked tennis player, won three Grand Slams last year and added the Australian Open in January for his 10th career major championship.

Russian pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva was named `Sportswoman of the Year,' and Italy won the `World Team of the Year' award after its World Cup triumph in Germany.

Serena Williams won the `Comeback of the Year' award for winning the Australian Open after a long injury layoff. French tennis player Amelie Mauresmo took the `Breakthrough of the Year' award for winning her first Grand Slam titles last year at the Australian Open and Wimbledon.

A 42-member panel of the Laureus World Sports Academy picked Federer for the top honour over a group of finalists that included golfer Tiger Woods and former Formula One champion Michael Schumacher.

Other winners included German skier Martin Braxenthaler for `Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability' and Kelly Slater of the United States for `Action Sportsperson of the Year.' Also, Spanish soccer team FC Barcelona won the `Spirit of Sport' award, and former German soccer great Franz Beckenbauer won the `Laureus Lifetime Achievement award.'

Beckenbauer won the World Cup as a player and a coach, and was the president of Germany's World Cup Organizing Committee.

The winners: Sportsman of the Year: Roger Federer, Switzerland; Sportswoman of the Year: Yelena Isinbayeva, Russia: Team of the Year: Italy's men's soccer team; Comeback of the Year: Serena Williams, United States; Breakthrough of the Year: Amelie Mauresmo, France; Sportsperson of the Year with a disability: Martin Braxenthaler, German, skiing; Action Sportsperson of the Year: Kelly Slater, United States, surfing.

Special Awards: Lifetime Achievement Award: Franz Beckenbauer, Germany; Laureus Spirit of Sport Award: FC Barcelona, Spain; Laureus Sport for Good Award: Duke Dowdney, Britain. — AP

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