Roger Federer has won the 2017 Laureus World Sportsman of the Year at a ceremony held in Monaco.
The 20-time grand slam champion, whose career has been on an incredible resurgence over the past year, also won the Comeback of the Year award.
Federer, 36, won the Australian Open and Wimbledon titles in 2017 after five years without a major, and picked up where he left off this year by claiming the 2018 Aussie Open.
Receiving the award, he said “I didn’t believe I would ever come back to this level. The year I had was something else. This means the world to me. The comebacks are always extremely emotional. Last year was a dream come true.”
American Serena Williams took the World Sportswoman of the Year award after winning last year’s Aussie Open –her 23rd grand slam title. Formula 1 constructors’ champions Mercedes picked up the Team of the Year accolade, and wheelchair athlete Marcel Hug won Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability.
Other winners on the night were Spanish golfer Sergio Garcia who secured the Breakthrough prize following his maiden major win at the 2017 Masters, while recently-retired Roma captain Francesco Totti clinched the Laureus Academy Exceptional Achievement award. Brazilian football club Chapecoense took the Best Sporting Moment of the Year accolade for their response in adversity following the tragic plane crash that took the lives of majority of their team.
