Tennis Update: Rafael Nadal wins another award for the season
World number one Spaniard, Rafael Nadal was awarded another laurel for his achievements in the 2010 season today. In a ceremony held in Birmingham, England, Nadal was awarded the BBC Overseas Sports Personality of the Year.
Unable to attend the ceremony, Nadal’s pre recorded message was played after his award was announced. He said in the message,
“For me it's an honour, thank you very much to the BBC for giving me this award. It's just a dream being in the list of great champions to receive this award."
This is Nadal’s second award for the year. Last month, at an award ceremony at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals, Nadal won the Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship award while he lifted the trophy for ending the year as world number one.
In a poll decided by the other six players at the season finale event, Nadal beat six-time winner Federer for the Edberg award.
Nadal has also been nominated for the coveted 2011 Laureus World Sportsman of the Year and the America’s Sports University Awards.
Nadal finished 2010 with seven titles under his belt. With the exception of winning the season’s first Grand Slam, the Spaniard lifted the trophies at the Roland Garros, Wimbledon Championship and the United States Open. Winning
the title at the United States Open, Nadal completed the coveted Career Golden Slam. Nadal also won the titles at three Masters events; Monte-Carlo, Rome and Madrid. Nadal also lifted the title at the ATP 500 event at Tokyo in October.
Winning the award, Nadal joins the ranks of Rod Laver, Arthur Ashe, Bjorn Borg, Boris Becker, Andre Agassi, Goran Ivanisevic and three-time winner Roger Federer. Praising Nadal for winning the award, Djokovic said,
"What's amazing about him is his mental ability to play continuously, each year better and better. He's actually improving. He's a real example of a tennis champion."
Nadal’s compatriot Nicolas Almagro won the award for the most improved player. Almagro finished 2010 at a world ranking of 15 with two title wins. Football star David Beckham was also honoured at the ceremony. Beckham received
the BBC Sports Personality Lifetime Achievement award by football legend Sir Bobby Charlton.
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