ATP: Nadal wins Sportmanship Award; Federer most popular player

Rafael Nadal has won the “Stefan Edberg Sportmanship Award” for the second time in his career. Novak Djokovic was named best comeback player, while Roger Federer won the “Fans’ Favourite Award” for the 16th time in a row.

Nadal was able to end Roger Federer’s permanent rule by winning the Sportmanship Award. All in all, the Swiss player was voted fairest player 13 times by his colleagues – only in 2010 could his Spanish permanent competitor be happy about the award.

In another category, however, Federer was able to extend his impressive series – the Maestro was voted the most popular player by the fans for the 16th time in a row. The “Fans’ Favourite Award” went to Jack Sock and Mike Bryan in the doubles and the Austrian Oliver Marach and his partner Mate Pavic were voted best team.

Novak Djokovic was also able to cheer for an award. The Serb, who triumphed in Wimbledon and New York after an elbow surgery in February, made the best comeback according to the other players. His coach Marian Vajda is meanwhile the best coach of the year 2018.

The “Team Djokovic” can also hope for the title “best player of the year”. This award will only be presented during the ATP finals.

The new generation also produced two winners. Stefanos Tsitsipas is the most improved player of the year, while only 19-year-old Alex de Minaur was voted best newcomer in 2018.

In addition, the players’ association also honored the best tournaments of the year. On Masters 1000 level the title went to the event in Indian Wells, in the 500 category Queen’s prevailed. The best 250cc tournament was the Stockholm Open.