Djokovic, Serena Nominated for SI’s Sportsman of the Year
Each year since 1954, Sports Illustrated nominates a number of athletes for its Sportsman of the Year Award to honor the excellent achievements of athletes across all sports. Both Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams had historic seasons, and each is a leading contender for the prestigious honor.
Djokovic put together one of the best seasons in the history of the men’s tour in 2015, reaching all four Grand Slam finals, winning three of them, and posting a remarkable record of 82-6. He won 11 titles overall, including six Masters 1000 titles and the end of the year ATP World Tour Finals. The 28-year old enjoyed the best season of his life, in his own words, and was far and above the best player on the tour all season long.
Serena came extremely close to completing a feat that hadn’t been done since 1988: win the Calendar Grand Slam. She won the first three major tournaments of the year and fell short at the U.S. Open, but that doesn’t hinder the incredible 2015 the 34-year old American had. She won her 19th, 20th and 21st Grand Slams of her career, pulling within one of Steffi Graf’s Open Era record, and finished the year ranked number one for the fifth time in her career.
Tennis is not as mainstream a sport as basketball, football or even, because of the triple crown in 2015, horse racing, so it may not be likely that either one of these will win the award. But that does not take away from the accomplishments and dominance both Serena and Djokovic displayed this year, in what is an individual sport.
San Francisco Giants pitcher Madison Bumgarner won the award last year for his dominating performance in winning the 2014 World Series.
The award will be announced Dec. 14.
