Novak Djokovic accomplishes a standard that only Roger Federer had done before

Novak Djokovic is arguably the greatest tennis player ever. Some might argue that Rafael Nadal is, while others may say Roger Federer is. The numbers are on Djokovic's side, however. He has won more Grand Slam titles (24) than any other men's player, more Masters 1000 events (40), and more weeks ranked as the ATP No. 1 than any other person (the number would be added here but we know it is just going to keep going up).

On Monday, Djokovic tied another record that had previously only been held by Federer. For the fifth time, Djokovic won the Laureus World Sports Award for Sportsman of the Year. What may make Djokovic's five even more impressive than Federer's is that Federer won four of his five awards consecutively (2005-2008). This was before Nadal or Djokovic had come into their own and Federer's high-end competition was a bit less than Nadal's and Djokovic's.

That is not meant as a slight to Federer. There was nothing he could do about who he was playing when he was so dominant in the mid-2000s. He simply defeated most anyone he faced. Not until Nadal and then Djokovic reached their peak did Federer begin having issues.

Novak Djokovic ties Roger Federer for most Laureus Sports Award Sportsmen of the Year wins

Djokovic won his Laureus awards between 2012 and 2024 playing against consistently better competition than Federer faced. The Serb and the Swiss are joined by another tennis player, Serena Williams, for most wins in either the Sportsman or Sportswoman of the Year categories.

This is impressive because the Laureus awards can go to any person in sports. For instance, since the awards came to be in 2000, track star Usain Bolt has won the award for Sportsman of the Year four times. Lionel Messi has won twice.

The Laureus World Sports Awards were created by the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation which was set up to "use the power of sport to end violence, discrimination and disadvantage, and prove that sport has the power to change the world."

Nadal did not go home empty-handed in 2024, however. His Rafa Nadal Foundation won the Sport for Good Award. This award goes to groups or foundations that use "sport as a powerful and cost-effective tool to help children and young people overcome violence, discrimination and disadvantage in their lives."

Also of note, while Novak Djokovic did tie Roger Federer for most wins for Sportsmen of the Year, Federer does have one more Laureus victory because he was awarded the World Comeback of the Year trophy in 2018. Djokovic seems to remain too consistent to pick up the Comeback of the Year award, to be honest.

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