Rafael Nadal finally got his ITF World Champion Award and he thanked the governing body for the honour of winning his 5th.
No Spanish player has won more ITF Men's World Champion Awards than Rafael Nadal. When the Spaniard was announced as the winner late last year in December, he improved his standings on the list of winners being tied now with Roger Federer at number three.
Novak Djokovic still has the most (7) as Pete Sampras trails with 6. Nadal now sits at number 3 along with his good friend Roger Federer. The Spaniard had an amazing 2022 winning two Grand Slam trophies (Australian Open and Wimbledon) which made this a rather obvious decision.
I’m very happy to be named ITF World Champion for the fifth time. When I first won the award in 2008, I would not have expected to still be playing at such a high level 14 years later.
The ceremony of the awards has been held in the meantime though Nadal couldn't participate because of his hip surgery that still needs time for healing. The Spaniard recorded a video message from his home thanking the governing body once more for the honour of winning the award a 5th time.
He's still the only Spanish player to have won the award and the only that has a statue in Mallorca as well.
"I hope you're having a very good evening, I'm very sorry that I'm not able to share this evening with all of you, but for medical reasons, I'm not able to be here. I just can't thank enough the ITF for this award, it means a lot to me because 2022 has been one of the most special years in my life."
"The title in Australia has been one of the most emotional in my career, without a doubt, because it was completely unexpected. Then happened what happened in Indian Wells with injuries, and I finally achieved the trophy again at Roland Garros. A big surprise for me, but a lot of months of suffering."
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