Nadal Receives Major Award

Written by: Bob Larson Tennis on 21st December 2010

Nadal Receives Major Award

Rafael Nadal (ESP) |

Awards have been even more abundant than major titles for Rafael Nadal in 2010 and he picked up another when the world no.1 was named BBC Overseas Sports Personality of the Year at a glittering ceremony in Birmingham that was watched by an estimated 10 millions viewers.

Nadal follows other iconic tennis names such a Rod Laver, Martina Navratilova, Chris Evert, Jimmy Connors, Bjorn Borg, Steffi Graf, Boris Becker, Martina Hingis and Andre Agassi as well as his great rival Roger Federer who stands alongside Muhammad Ali as the only man to be named award winner three times.

The Spaniard’s win meant Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt was prevented from amassing a hat-trick of awards. “”For me it’s an honor, so I say thank you very much to the BBC for giving me this award,” said Nadal who by winning September’s US Open became only the seventh man in history to win all four of tennis’s major singles titles. “It’s just a dream being in the list of great champions to receive this award.”

Nadal’s feat is even more impressive because in 2009 he was beset by numerous problems including knee tendonitis, abdominal pain, a leg injury and the break-up of his parents’ marriage. During 2010 he collected his fifth French Open title in six years, followed up with a second Wimbledon triumph and then completed his personal set by beating Novak Djokovic to win a first ever US Open.

Michael Johnson, the gold medal laden American sprinter who won the award jointly in 1996 with boxer Evander Holyfield, announced the award saying all sport was going through a golden era and the man at the very pinnacle in terms of accomplishment is Nadal.

And Nadal’s tennis peers were also fulsome in their praise. “I think what Rafa has done at such a young age, so consistently, is quite phenomenal really and he’s the best player by far in 2010,” said Federer who this week plays his great rival in two exhibitions for charity in Madrid and Geneva.

Novak Djokovic added: “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.”

And Britain’s Andy Murray added: “He fights so hard on the court, he treats every match like it’s going to be the last one and he’s one of the best players of all time.”

Topics: Award Awards, Bjorn Borg, Boris Becker, Chris Evert, French Open Title, Jimmy Connors, Knee Tendonitis, Leg Injury, Martina Hingis, Martina Navratilova, Michael Johnson, Muhammad Ali, Novak Djokovic, Personal Set, Rafael Nadal, Rod Laver, Roger Federer, Sports Personality, Steffi Graf, Steffi Graf Boris Becker